With the recent accession of His Royal Majesty King Charles III, following the passing of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we would like to congratulate His Majesty and celebrate his coming reigning years. In honour of this time, we take a look back on his past visits to Hertfordshire alongside Camilla, Queen Consort. Herts is a place of vibrance, culture, and history, so we’re here to share and celebrate some of its monumental sites and the amazing people who make it quite so special. Herts and its locals have made great memories with Charles and Camilla in the past, and all look forward to welcoming them both back soon as King and Queen Consort.
Credit: Wenta
Wenta Business Centre
King Charles’ history in Herts dates all the way back to the 80s, with his visit to the Wenta Business Centre in 1986. Opening the Watford Enterprise Agency’s first business centre, he has allowed for so many business owners since to get advice and help needed.
Purcell School for Young Musicians
As Britain’s oldest music school, the Purcell School for Young Musicians has provided so much for the local community in Hertfordshire, so it’s no surprise that King Charles continues to show patronage since the day he opened the school in 1998. In 2003, he accepted the UNESCO Mozart Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution To Arts Education on behalf of the school. Having described the school as "an extraordinary institution with a very special place in my heart", we’re proud to have the school in our county.
Coptic Orthodox Church Centre
In 2013, His Royal Majesty visited the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Stevenage, where he was joined by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan. While there, the two attended a brief service and then met with the young people who volunteer for the church’s homeless ministry. His encounters with the locals and the work they were doing had a great impact on the King, who said it was a “Privilege to come to Stevenage, to join you in witnessing a small part of the Coptic Christian service.”
Oshwal Association
In 2015, His Majesty visited the Oshwal Association of the UK in Potters Bar. The association runs the country’s largest Jain Temple, and his visit marked the 25th anniversary of the Institute of Jainology. He was also anointed with the tilak – a paste made of ash, vermillion, clay, or turmeric – on his forehead. The Oshwal Association is a place of community and vibrance, two key aspects of life in Hertfordshire that continually grow and thrive within the county.
Hatfield Park
In 2015, King Charles also made a visit to the magnificent Hatfield Park, where he was met by jewellery designer Fiona Rae. Working on the grounds of the beautiful Jacobean House, she has been designing and making jewellery for over 27 years and has held a Royal Warrant since 2001. If her work is fit for a King, it’s certainly fit for us!
Yavneh College
Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis invited King Charles to visit Yavneh College back in 2017, an institute recognised for its great work in the community. While there, the King received a guided tour and even made a balloon crown with Avrohom Zeidman, a rabbi who works for a charity which provides gifts for children with special needs. Hertfordshire is filled with amazing people who devote their time and energy to doing incredibly things, and Yavneh College is just one example of where this happens.
Elstree Studios
Earlier this year, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, King Charles and Camilla Queen Consort visited the set of BBC Eastenders at Elstree Studios. While there, they filmed some scenes (that’s right, your favourite royals are on your favourite soap!) and were given a behind the scenes tour of the set. Roll the end music!