The King and Queen hosted a gathering at Buckingham Palace to honor the hundreds of military personnel for their hard work and commitment on Tuesday evening.
His Majesty, as Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, hosted around 340 people and spoke to service members.
During the Queen’s event, Warrant Officer Danny Manifold from HMS Astute emphasized the close relationship between the Royal Navy and the Royal Family.
He recalled Camilla’s thoughtful gesture during a 2020 visit to the Scottish naval base.
‘In the midst of the Covid pandemic, she graciously provided refreshments to the caterers on HMS Astute. The crew was delighted with the English Breakfast tea and shortbread she sent for all 135 submariners,’ Manifold shared.
‘She writes at least once a year to us. Everyone really knows that she’s really involved.’
She apologised then that she was unable to shake crew members’ hands, due to the coronavirus pandemic – and thanked them ‘from the bottom of my heart’ for their service.
Camilla, 77, worked her way around the room, chatting to various guests in an eye-catching emerald green frock and black suede boots.
The King’s event, which lasted more than an hour, saw him engaged in animated conversation with guests – and his ‘eyes lit up’ with the mention of James Bond author Ian Fleming.
Charles demonstrated a keen interest in the heritage during a recent engagement with service personnel, particularly in the history of the elite Number 30 Commando unit.
The unit, originally proposed by James Bond creator Ian Fleming during World War II, remains an integral part of the UK Commando Force to this day.
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Armstrong, a member of the unit, noted the King enthusiasm when discussing its origins.
‘His eyes lit up a little bit when we talked about that connection,’ Armstrong said, highlighting the monarch’s appreciation for its storied past.
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Armstrong, from the UK Commando Force, described his conversation with the King on Tuesday as ‘really special’.
‘It means a great deal to us… that we have moments to share like this with the King,’ he said.
The King, 76, looked dapper in a navy pinstripe suit with a crisp white shirt and a baby blue patterned tie, complete with black polished shoes.
The visit reinforced the close relationship between the monarchy and the armed forces, with King Charles carrying forward the tradition of engagement and support for those who serve.
Earlier on Tuesday, the monarch met faith leaders at Buckingham Palace after the signing of a framework to lay the foundation for a transformative relationship between Jewish and Muslim communities – which he called ‘marvellous’.
The ‘Reconciliation Accords’ were signed by faith leaders on Tuesday at Spencer House, London, after Muslim and Jewish religious and civic leaders were welcomed to Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland last month by the Duke of Buccleuch for an event convened by Chief Imam Dr Sayed Razawi, Buckingham Palace said.
Agreed at Drumlanrig Castle, the Accords aim to create enduring frameworks for collaboration and understanding, ensuring Jewish and Muslim communities can navigate challenges together while fostering mutual respect and solidarity, the palace added.
Charles welcomed the faith leaders to the palace’s 1844 room on Tuesday afternoon.
The King first spoke to Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Imam Dr Sayed Razawi, Senior Imam Qari Asim and Rabbi Josh Levy.
Speaking to Dr Razawi, Charles said: ‘I’m so glad to hear about this marvellous exercise.’ He added that ‘it seems to have stood you all in good stead’.
Sir Ephraim thanked Charles, saying: ‘Thank you so much for blessing us on this historic day.’
The King replied: ‘It’s the least I could do, you know that.’ Sir Ephraim added: ‘We believe it’s the only way forward.’
The King spent time speaking to the faith leaders in the room before they posed for a photograph.
Last month at Drumlanrig Castle, 11 denominations from Judaism and Islam were represented in discussions focusing on the future of Jewish-Muslim relations, particularly in the context of global tensions and the impact on relationships between these communities, Buckingham Palace said.
The UK Faith Minister, Lord Khan of Burnley, and representatives of the UK and Scottish Governments and the European Commission attended as observers, and the First Minister of Scotland addressed the gathering on the closing evening, the palace added.
In a statement about the Accords sent to the media, Sir Ephraim said: ‘The Drumlanrig Accords represent a bold first step towards rebuilding a meaningful trust between Muslim and Jewish communities over the long term.
‘They do not gloss over our differences, they acknowledge them. But they also send out a powerful message that in times of division, when it is far easier to retreat into fear and suspicion, we are prepared to take the more challenging path to reconciliation. We do so not because it is easy, but because it is necessary.
‘My hope is that these Accords will now inspire others and give them the confidence to similarly reach out beyond their communities, so that over time, we can built greater trust and social cohesion across the UK and beyond.’
A statement from Dr Razawi said: ‘As people of faith, we have a duty to rise above division and lead with wisdom, compassion, and unity.
‘This accord is not just a statement, it is a commitment to healing, to dialogue, and disagree agreeably.’
