The Chief Rabbi has praised the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh following their visit to the former Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen.
Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis accompanied the royal couple as they laid a wreath at the site in Germany on Friday. He said the “Jewish world” appreciated the solidarity shown by the Queen.
She and Prince Philip stood at the memorial to Anne Frank, who died at the camp, and later spoke to survivors.
Rabbi Mirvis said the couple had “appreciated the enormity of their visit” and were “moved” by their conversations with survivors and liberators.
“This was a very special day, and a historic occasion,” he told the JC as he prepared to fly back to London.
“I told the Queen of the appreciation that is felt around the Jewish world and for her showing solidarity and sending the message that we have to remember what happened and that it will never be forgotten.
“She identified with those sentiments. She was moved, as was Prince Philip; they appreciated the enormity of their visit.”
Rabbi Mirvis said the trip, to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the camp, was “a reminder of how fresh the wounds are and how she wanted to recognise the suffering of the Jewish people and to make the point that we should never forget the Holocaust.
“I was with her when she laid the wreath and we had a meaningful conversation. Her conversation with the survivors was very special.”
Among those to meet the royal couple were Jewish ex-servicemen who had liberated the camp. Rabbi Mirvis said it had been a highlight of the trip to see the Queen meet the former soldiers.
“The survivors are remarkable people – they have retained their sanity and are able to convey their memories to the world,” he added. “They said it was a privilege to be there and thanked the Queen for including them. They showed incredible humility.
“I told the Queen of the appreciation that is felt around the Jewish world and for her showing solidarity and sending the message that we have to remember what happened and that it will never be forgotten.
“She identified with those sentiments. She was moved, as was Prince Philip; they appreciated the enormity of their visit.”
