Prince Charles and Camilla meet UK Shoah survivors in Vienna

Prince Charles and Camilla have met British Holocaust survivors in their birthplace of Vienna as part of a tour of the city’s Jewish Museum.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall heard first-hand how Jewish children escaped from Nazi control from UK-based Freddie Knoller and Harry Bibring, who were flown out by the Holocaust Education Trust.

Austria was home to about 185,000 Jews before the war, and both Freddie and Harry later heard how their families had been killed in Nazi death camps after the boys were shuttled to freedom on the Kindertransport.

For the Royal couple it was a chance to catch up with Freddie and Harry, who they have met before as part of their education and outreach work across the UK, where they and other survivors mainly work with schools.

“We have all heard stories about the Holocaust but there is nothing like hearing from the survivors themselves,” said the HET’s Karen Pollack. “Harry and Freddie are inspirational people who feel a great debt of thanks to Britain, where they rebuilt their lives.”

She added: “We are grateful to The Prince and Duchess for acknowledging the importance of Holocaust education and remembrance and for recognising the dedication of survivors like Freddie and Harry in continuing to speak to educate future generations.”

Harry said: “It is such an honour to meet His Royal Highness, and especially in Vienna which means a lot to me. During the Holocaust I lost my parents, my freedom, my childhood hobbies and sports, and my ability to go to school – but I am so proud to be British and today is a special day.”

Freddie added: “I am delighted to be meeting the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in my home country, where I was born. Britain has done so much for me, I have lived here with my wife for 66 years. I am so happy to be in Vienna to remember my parents, who were gassed to death by the Nazis at Auschwitz.”