King Charles appointed Andy Burnham as the new Prime Minister today (Image: Getty)
The King hailed Europe’s first eco-mosque as “magnificent” and “architecturally wonderful” as he toured the award-winning building that is actively promoting interfaith dialogue across Cambridgeshire. Eco-warrior Charles was in awe of the sustainability features integrated within the building, such as air-source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, and photovoltaic arrays, coupled with its architectural excellence.
Inside, the airy structure is held aloft on elegant, tree-like columns that interlace to form an octagonal lattice vault, referencing the Gothic fan-vaulting of the nearby King’s College Chapel. The award-winning design by London-based firm Marks Barfield Architects has resulted in no air conditioning being needed for the building, which was cool despite the 25-degree temperatures in the city on Monday.
Charles was taken to a side room to remove his shoes before entering the main prayer room, where he met groups from the local community and school children who attend religious classes during the week.
King Charles visits a mosque in Cambridge (Image: Getty)
The Mosque considers itself an example of the vital role religious communities can play in the shared human struggle against global warming, and aspects of Muslim teaching on care for the planet were discussed during the visit.
Speaking to the trustees, the King called the building “magnificent” and “architecturally wonderful”.
The mosque, which opened in 2019, has been credited with actively promoting interfaith dialogue across Cambridgeshire and during the visit Charles met members of the diverse community, including the mosque’s imams and trustees, and other faith leaders from across the city who have joined forces to support the place of worship.
After unveiling a plaque to commemorate his visit, the King, 77, said: “The care and attention that you have lavished on it, and the fact that you have a purpose-built mosque here with a community centre attached, makes a huge contribution, I’m sure. Not only to the Muslim community but to Cambridge itself.
“So, I do congratulate you, and I pray with all my heart that you continue to have every possible success and you continue your work with other faiths in this area and set a remarkable example of integrated faith activity. Thank you for having me here today.”
The King spoke to faith leaders at the mosque (Image: Getty)
After the visit, he then travelled a few miles down the road to officially open the new Whittle Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. The King visited the site of the £58m laboratory in his first official engagement after his Coronation in May 2023.
Charles unveiled a plaque to mark the visit to the lab, which aims to halve the amount of time it takes to develop technologies aiming to achieve net zero aviation.
Charles’s long-planned away day to Cambridge came after he spent the morning in London to appoint the new prime minister.
It’s one of the sovereign’s few remaining personal prerogatives, and meant he had to be at Buckingham Palace on Monday for Sir Keir Starmer to tender his resignation after just over two years in office.
As the departing prime minister left the London residence, Andy Burnham was driven through the ornate gates and into the Palace, where the King instructed him to form a government.
The official process is known as ‘kissing hands’ and will be recorded in the court circular as such, but in practice, this is marked by a slight head bow and a handshake rather than a kiss.
Having already travelled over 100 miles from his private Gloucestershire home, Highgrove House, to the Palace this morning, the 77-year-old monarch then headed 60-miles north to Cambridge for two community engagements.