Manchester —
King Charles III made an unannounced visit to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on Monday, paying his respects to the victims of the recent Yom Kippur attack and expressing solidarity with the city’s Jewish community.
The tragic assault occurred on October 2, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, who was out on bail for an alleged rape, attempted to attack the synagogue and was fatally shot by police.
Upon arrival, the 76-year-old monarch was welcomed by Rabbi Daniel Walker, who guided him to a memorial outside the synagogue, where flowers and handwritten messages had been placed by mourners. The King stood silently for several moments, bowing his head in tribute.
This visit marked King Charles’s first public engagement since his younger brother, Prince Andrew, formally relinquished his Duke of York and Order of the Garter titles following renewed controversy over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
While the palace has yet to issue a formal statement on Prince Andrew’s royal fallout, royal analysts see this appearance as an effort by King Charles to refocus public attention on compassion and national unity.
Following the attack, the Royal Family had posted a message on social media saying,
“We are deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific attack. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.”
The King’s personal visit, described as deeply emotional, was praised by local leaders and community members as a symbol of empathy, resilience, and interfaith harmony in the face of tragedy.
