The King has spoken of his sadness at the dwindling numbers of Holocaust survivors as he prepares to travel to Auschwitz to mark the 80th anniversary of its liberation. Charles revealed he felt compelled to travel to the former Nazi death camp to mark the “important” anniversary on January 27. The monarch will join heads of state, presidents and prime ministers from around the globe for a poignant remembrance ceremony at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial in Poland on January 27.
The King, patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, today hosted an event at Buckingham Palace to hear about various initiatives designed to ensure that the experiences of Holocaust survivors are not forgotten. He was joined by Manfred Goldberg, 94, who survived a succession of labour camps, including Stutthof in occupied Poland, and a death march, praising his “marvellous” work in helping to educate future generations about the atrocities.
The King chatted to Mr Goldberg about his plans to attend the anniversary ceremony, saying: “I feel I must for the 80th anniversary. It’s so important.” Speaking of the small number of Holocaust survivors still alive to share their experiences, he added: “I can’t bear the dwindling number left behind.”.
Mr Goldberg, who did not speak publicly about the horrors he experienced until he was in his 70s, has previously met the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales on several occasions, working alongside them to ensure the horrors of the holocaust are not forgotten. In 2017, he returned to Stutthof, where he met William and Kate during a deeply emotional visit described by the royals as "shattering".
