Prince Charles.Photo: Tom Hayward and BBC Studios
Prince Charlesis preserving the memory of Holocaust survivors through a unique series of paintings.
In March 2020, Charles, 73, who is patron of the National Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, commissioned a series of artists to paint seven people who lived through the trauma of the Holocaust. And it has been recorded in a new documentary,Survivors: Portraits of the Holocaust.
Charles, who haspainted for years, gave an interview for the documentary, which will air on the BBC in the U.K. on Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27.
“As the number of Holocaust survivors sadly, but inevitably, declines, my abiding hope is that this special collection will act as a further guiding light for our society, reminding us not only of history’s darkest days, but of humanity’s interconnectedness as we strive to create a better world for our children, grandchildren and generations as yet unborn; one where hope is victorious over despair and love triumphs over hate,“Prince Charlessaid in a statement.
Prince Charles.Tom Hayward and BBC Studios
The prince has made it a central plank of his public work to bothrecognize the unique contribution that different religionsbring to the U.K. and the world, and to bring different communities together.
The BBC documentary follows the creation of the paintings as the artists and survivors come together for their final sittings, with the artists reflecting on their time getting to know the survivors and how their experiences informed their paintings.
According to the BBC, viewers will hear the testimonies of the seven remarkable men and women “who witnessed one of the greatest atrocities in human history, and will meet the artists tasked with creating portraits that represent their pain and loss, as well as their dignity, light and hope.”
The paintingswill be on displayat The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace and then at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.
“These Holocaust survivors endured the very worst. They were rounded up into ghettos, sent to concentration camps and enslaved as forced labourers. To survive the concentration and death camps and 77 years later see their portraits displayed in Buckingham Palace is very special indeed, and a poignant and fitting testament to their lasting contribution to this country. The Nazis intended there to be no Jews left in Europe – instead these survivors are honoured at the heart of British society.
“HRH The Prince of Wales has long been a true supporter of Holocaust education and remembrance, and we could not be more grateful and indebted to him for the work he continues to do to ensure that the Holocaust holds a central place in British history and memory.”
The portraits will stand as a lasting reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust, which will one day be lost to living memory. They will be part of the Royal Collection and the documentary’s interviews will be stored at London’s Imperial War Museum.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s images are also on display at the museum. Kate viewed the exhibit in November.
Kate Middleton chatting with Holocaust survivors on September 21, 2021.Alamy Stock Photo
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He previously PEOPLE of his visit with Kate, “It was very nice. She was very interested. It brought back happy memories of being on the lake. It took some years to get rid of the whole situation. I lost everybody, my parents, brothers and sisters.”
source: people.com
