King Charles pledges ‘additional duty’ to protect faith diversity of U.K.
September 17, 2022, 8:51 am

King Charles pledges ‘additional duty’ to protect faith diversity of U.K.

King Charles III has addressed faith leaders from across the United Kingdom at a reception in Buckingham Palace this afternoon - The Royal Family official Twitter account

King Charles III has pledged to uphold the “additional duty” as a new monarch of protecting the diversity of the U.K. and be a sovereign of all communities around the Commonwealth.

Addressing a group of faith leaders on Friday evening in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace, where just days before his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin lay in rest before its final journey to Westminster Hall, the 73-year-old royal said he has always thought of Britain as a “community of communities”.

As a committed Anglican Christian, Charles said he believed in protecting the space for all faiths, building on the foundation laid by his “beloved mother”.

“I have always thought of Britain as a community of communities,” the King said in an address to around 30 faith leaders invited to the palace.

“That has led me to understand that the sovereign has an additional duty – less formally recognised but to be no less diligently discharged. It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for faith itself and its practise through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals,” he said.

“I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart.”

The King has addressed faith leaders from across the United Kingdom at a reception in Buckingham Palace this afternoon. https://t.co/bbt5MZmJZo pic.twitter.com/LpE4UxjXCh
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 16, 2022

“This diversity is not just enshrined in the laws of our country, it is enjoined by my own faith,” he said.

The King noted that at his coronation, expected next year, he will take an oath relating to the “settlement of the Church of England” and on his accession, he has already followed in the footsteps of other monarchs in history by taking an oath which pledges to maintain and preserve the Protestant faith in Scotland.

Buckingham Palace releases details of Queen's funeral ceremonies in next days

However, as a member of the Church of England, he said his Christian beliefs have love at their very heart and he feels bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals.

“The beliefs that flourish in, and contribute to, our richly diverse society differ. They, and our society, can only thrive through a clear collective commitment to those vital principles of freedom of conscience, generosity of spirit and care for others which are, to me, the essence of our nationhood,” he said.

“I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart,” he added.

Staff of King Charles told they could lose jobs, as union calls the move ‘heartless’

Among those present at the gathering included priests of the Catholic church, Greek Orthodox church, and Church of Scotland as well as the Head Rabbi of London and a Zoroastrian priest.

Soon after the reception, Charles made his way to observe a vigil by the coffin of the late Queen, who is Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall in London until her state funeral on Monday. At the vigil, he was joined by his younger siblings – Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward.

Source: g7tamil

Energy crisis: New measures in Belgium, Athens restricts lighting of municipality Cheetah, world's fastest cat, returns to India after 70 years

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”