Prince Charles pays tribute to victims of the Holocaust & encourages everyone to honour survivors

The Prince of Wales has recorded a special message to virtually open this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day event, which focuses on a theme of being ‘the Light in the Darkness’.

The future King has been Patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust since 2015, and urged people to ensure survivors’ stories are never forgotten, as the number of people who are able to give first-hand accounts about the horrors of the genocide decreases.

 

His Royal Highness says: “As I speak, the last generation of living witnesses is tragically passing from this world, so the task of bearing witness falls to us.  That is why The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, of which I am so proud to be Patron, has this year chosen the theme – ‘Be the Light in the Darkness.’

Prince Charles continued: “This is not a task for one time only; nor is it a task for one generation, or one person. It is for all people, all generations, and all time.”

“This is our time when we can, each in our own way, be the light that ensures the darkness can never return.”

The tribute reflects a period in human history, where 11 million victims, including six million Jewish people, were killed in Nazi death camps.

Charles and Camilla are set to join celebrities and politicians by taking part in a national moment of lighting the darkness. The sign of support is set to show those who have lit candles and placed them in their windows.

Last year, Prince Charles carried out a number of engagements in Israel to remember those who were murdered in extermination camps. The Prince met two Holocaust survivors at a special reception for British Holocaust Survivors at The Israel Museum Format.

Whilst The Prince was on tour in Israel, he spoke at the World Holocaust Forum commenting: “The scale of the evil was so great, the impact so profound, that it threatens to obscure the countless individual human stories of tragedy, loss and suffering of which it was comprised.  That is why places like this, and events like this, are so vitally important.”

The Duchess of Cornwall, meanwhile, visited Poland to attend commemorations marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most infamous of all the camps. Camilla joined other Royals, including King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, in a service marking the anniversary.

Duchess Kate takes photos of Holocaust survivors & their grandchildren to mark 75 years since Auschwitz

National landmarks across the UK, including Wembley Stadium, are to be lit up in purple at 8pm on Wednesday to mark the memorial. Brits are being encouraged to watch the ceremony and light a candle to mark the event.

The Ceremony is set to run from 7-8pm on 27th January 2021 and can be joined via this link.

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