King Charles III expressed his “greatest admiration for the Coptic community” during a visit to the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Hertfordshire, maintaining a keen personal interest in the religion since his days as a prince.
There are approximately 40,000 Coptic Orthodox Christians in the United Kingdom, who are represented by Archbishop Angaelos of London.
During the 5 December visit, the archbishop gave King Charles a fragment of stone from the Coptic Orthodox altar within the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, speaking of its “unparalleled significance” in Christian history.
The king attended an Advent service attended by over six hundred guests from the House of Lords and House of Commons, the diplomatic corps, the Foreign Commonwealth Office, humanitarian and advocacy organisations, ecumenical and interreligious guests, and members of the Coptic Orthodox clergy and community in the United Kingdom.
