Princess Kate made a last-minute decision to join Prince William at a Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony in London, marking her first official appearance since announcing her cancer remission. The poignant service commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
While Prince William’s attendance was previously scheduled, Princess Kate’s presence was a significant and unexpected addition. The palace confirmed her participation on January 27th. At the event, she was reported to have said, “It’s good to be able to be here.” She appeared to be wearing Queen Elizabeth’s Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings, the same ones she wore for Remembrance Sunday in November.
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Holocaust Memorial Day honors the six million Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust, as well as the millions killed under Nazi persecution and in subsequent genocides. The date, January 27th, marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. This year’s commemoration held particular significance due to the landmark 80th anniversary.
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This was Princess Kate’s first royal engagement since announcing her cancer remission on January 14th. She shared the news in a personal social media post following a surprise visit to The Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where she had previously received treatment. The visit also coincided with the announcement of her new patronage of the hospital alongside Prince William.
Prince William and Princess Kate previously attended the UK Holocaust Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony in London in January 2020 for the 75th anniversary of the Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation. During that service, Prince William read a letter from a friend of his late great-grandmother, Princess Alice, who is recognized for her role in saving a Jewish family during the Holocaust. The couple also participated in a candle ceremony with Holocaust survivors, including Yvonne Bernstein, whom Kate later photographed.
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On the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day in 2020, the palace released photographs taken by Princess Kate of two Holocaust survivors and their grandchildren. These portraits were part of a broader exhibition organized by the Holocaust Memorial Trust, Jewish News, and the Royal Photographic Society (of which Princess Kate is a patron). The exhibition featured 75 images of survivors and their families, commemorating 75 years since the end of the Holocaust.
Princess Kate has also shown her commitment to remembering the Holocaust through other engagements. In 2021, she visited the Lake District, a place of refuge for Holocaust survivors after World War II. There, she shared a boat trip with two of the Windermere Children, a group of 300 young Holocaust survivors brought to the area in 1945 to recover from the trauma they endured.
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King Charles is currently in Poland to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation, making history as the first British monarch to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. This visit underscores the continued importance of remembering the Holocaust and honoring its victims.
