In a royal visit with a humanitarian and social touch, King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited several communities in London on February 26, just ahead of the start of Ramadan. Their tour included a stop at the Darjeeling Express restaurant, founded by renowned chef Asma Khan, where they helped pack food boxes for charity donations.
King Charles Impresses Everyone with His Speed in Packing Dates
One of the highlights of the visit was King Charles and Queen Camilla sitting alongside Asma Khan to help pack dates, a key component of Ramadan Iftar meals, traditionally eaten at sunset to break the fast.
The 76-year-old King Charles showed great enthusiasm for the task, which led Chef Asma Khan to exclaim in surprise, “I didn’t realize the King would be so fast!” This prompted a burst of laughter from the King.
Khan continued, playfully addressing the volunteers, “I didn’t realize you two would be such a fast pair!” as Queen Camilla and the team laughed. The King seemed to take the task seriously, continuing at an impressive pace, while Khan praised his skills saying, “You pack dates faster than I can close the boxes!”
Queen Camilla Calls the King Back to His Original Task
After packing the dates, the King and Queen moved to the kitchen, where they joined chef Asha Pradhan in preparing biryani boxes to donate to Doorstep, an organization that supports families in need of permanent housing.
In another amusing moment, King Charles seemed distracted by chatting with the guests and strayed a little from the work. This prompted Queen Camilla to jokingly comment, “I think my husband is supposed to be busy with this task, gentlemen, we’re waiting!” causing everyone to laugh before the King returned to complete his task.
An Emotional Meeting with the Syrian Community in London
Following their visit to the Indian restaurant, the King and Queen continued their tour with a visit to “Imad’s Syrian Kitchen,” where they met with members of the Syrian community in the UK.
They were greeted by Syrian chef Imad al-Arnab, who lost three restaurants in Damascus before arriving in the UK as a refugee in 2015 with only $15. Today, his restaurant has become one of the most famous Syrian restaurants in London, serving dishes that reflect his rich heritage.
King Charles Listens to the Stories of Syrian Refugees
The meeting was emotional as the King met with members of the Syrian community, including BAFTA award-winning director Waad Al-Kateab and her husband Dr. Hamza Al-Kateab, who produced the famous documentary For Sama, which documents the tragedies of the Syrian war.
During the conversation, King Charles expressed his deep support for the Syrian community, emphasizing his interest in learning more about their culture and experiences. After the meeting, Imad al-Arnab shared his impression, saying, “His visit left a deep impact on us. The King knows so much about Syrian culture, Islam, our history. It’s amazing to see this kind of interest.”
He added, “This kind of support from His Majesty shows us how important we are as human beings. We have never received such attention before.” He also expressed hope that the visit would help foster greater connection between the British and Syrian communities, saying, “We have great hopes for building a better future together.”
