King Charles III in Kenya on his first visit to Commonwealth country as monarch with Queen Camilla, Queen consort of the United Kingdom. King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Kenya for his first visit as monarch to a former British colony, where he planned to acknowledge "painful aspects" of a shared history that featured almost seven decades of colonial rule. The King met members of the Kenyan government, U.N. staff, faith leaders, young people, and Kenyan Marines, who the UK Royal Marines will train. He also attended an event to celebrate Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai. Charles made three official visits to Kenya in 1971, 1978, and 1987, and the King and queen also visited the country privately. Kenya is particularly significant to the royal family. It is the country where Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II, began her historic reign. She was visiting the country when her father, King George VI, died in 1952. The royal couple arrived in Mombasa on Thursday. The King was received by President Ruto at Mtongwe Naval Base and inspected the guard of honour. Earlier in the day, King Charles III toured the Mombasa Memorial Cathedral amid tight security from Kenya and the British government. He also met Faith Leaders in the Women's Chapel before taking a seat alongside ten other members of the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics. Later, he was at Nyali, where youths in Mombasa gifted the King a chair. The plastic Swahili chair was made from recycled plastic bottles discarded by people visiting the beaches. King Charles III was honoured as a Tide Turner Warrior in Kenya and presented with a badge. British Monarch King Charles III toured the Mombasa Memorial Cathedral on Friday amid tight security from Kenya and the British government. The King was met by the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Mombasa, Bishop Alphonce Mwaro Baya. The governor of Mombasa County, Abdulswamad Nassir, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics, Stephen Anyenda, were also present. His Majesty met Faith Leaders in the Women's Chapel before taking a seat alongside 10 other members of the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics. The British Commission said, "His Majesty will hear a discussion on the role of interfaith dialogue in promoting peace, security, and development with the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics members." The King then proceeded inside the Cathedral, where he viewed some of the building's architectural features before meeting the Cathedral's choir. The King then unveiled a plaque marking his visit before departing. Mombasa Memorial Cathedral is the central church of the Anglican Church of Kenya's Diocese of Mombasa. The Cathedral was the first established in East Africa, and 2023 marks 120 years since the foundation stone was laid. The Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics is an organization that has been working in the Coastal region of Kenya for over 15 years to promote peace, security, and development. It has eight member organizations representing the Christian, Hindu, Muslim, and African Traditional Faiths. It operates in six coastal counties: Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Lamu, and Tana River, as well as Nairobi and Garissa. On her side, Queen Camilla was briefed about support for survivors of domestic violence after meeting staff, volunteers, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence at the Situation Room. She also visited the Tononoka Social Hall, where she was shown survivor kits that volunteers provide—self-care packages that include sanitary products, shawls, toys, soap, snacks, and other grooming items. The package is almost similar to a kit from Her Majesty's Wash Bag Project—an initiative established by Her Majesty when she was Duchess of Cornwall in 2017, which offers a gesture of comfort to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The King also visited the Mandhry Mosque to gain more insights on the work of the interfaith dialogue work of the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics and the significance of the contribution of Mosque as a religious site to this dialogue. In their final stop, both the King and the queen visited the Fort Jesus, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mombasa Old Town. Here, their Majesties learned about the British, Portuguese, and Omani influences on the Fort's architecture. The King and Queen then met local creatives who outlined how they, with U.K. support, are preserving local cultural practices for future generations. The visit culminated with a brief send off ceremony at Moi International Airport, Led by His Excellency William Ruto , The President of The Republic of Kenya.
Thu, Jan 1, 12 AM