
On Monday, as the world commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day, the Prince and Princess of Wales attended a ceremony and reception at the Guildhall in London dedicated to the important occasion.

As King Charles III marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Poland, Prince William and Princess Catherine arrived at the Guildhall in London for a ceremony and reception to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in Britain.

William and Kate lit candles during the poignant ceremony, joining young representatives from the Anne Frank Trust and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. William also shared remarks, thanking those in attendance for their “bravery in sharing with us the most harrowing moments of their lives.” He added, “We remember the survivors who live with the scars, both mental and physical.”

The royal couple also posed for a group photograph alongside survivors, attendees, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

The need to preserve the memories of those who endured the terrors and tragedies of the Holocaust has been on Princess Catherine’s mind for several years. In 2020, she took part in a photographic project for an Imperial War Museum exhibition, Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors. Both of her subjects were in attendance at Monday’s reception, and the joy on their reunions was evident. Here, Kate embraces Steven Frank, who was imprisoned in multiple concentration camps as a child.
In 2020, the princess photographed Frank with his granddaughters, Maggie and Trixie. At the time, Catherine explained that she aimed to make the pictures “deeply personal,” reflecting “a celebration of family and the life that they have built since they both arrived in Britain in the 1940s.”

Catherine also photographed Yvonne Bernstein and her granddaughter, Chloe, for the same project in 2020. Bernstein was hidden with her aunt in France during the war. She has described the experience as “living in constant fear, an unguarded comment or the suspicions of nosy neighbors could lead to discovery and death.”
During the photo sessions in 2020, the then-Duchess of Cambridge said, “The harrowing atrocities of the Holocaust, which were caused by the most unthinkable evil, will forever lay heavy in our hearts. Despite unbelievable trauma at the start of their lives, Yvonne Bernstein and Steven Frank are two of the most life-affirming people that I have had the privilege to meet. Their stories will stay with me forever.”
Today, the official social media accounts for the Prince and Princess of Wales shared this message: “So wonderful to see Holocaust survivors Steven Frank and Yvonne Bernstein, who were photographed by The Princess with their grandchildren back in 2020. It is so important to come together, learn both from and about the past, and to take actions to make a better future for all.”

For the ceremony and reception, Princess Catherine wore special pearls. Her earrings, the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings, belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her five-stranded pearl necklace comes from a Jewish-owned brand, Susan Caplan. Kate also wore a pearl bracelet from the collection of Diana, Princess of Wales and her diamond and sapphire engagement ring for the occasion.
My coverage of the events of today’s occasion of remembrance will continue soon with an article dedicated to the memorial service in Poland on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
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