King Charles Removes Shoes for Cambridge Mosque Visit
- King Charles took off his shoes to walk through the prayer hall at Cambridge Central Mosque, known as Europe’s first Eco-Mosque.
- He unveiled a plaque marking Cambridge’s 75th anniversary as a city and received a book about the mosque.
- The visit took place on the same day Charles accepted Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation and invited Andy Burnham to form a new government.
King Charles walked through the prayer hall at Cambridge Central Mosque in his socks on Monday, taking off his shoes before entering. The King, 77, is usually seen wearing formal leather shoes at public events, making the moment a rare sight.
The Mosque Visit
Charles spoke with dignitaries in the mosque’s garden area before moving inside. While talking to schoolchildren in the prayer hall, he joked that he hoped he had not “ruined the holidays too much by dragging you in here.”
After putting his shoes back on in the mosque’s first room, Charles unveiled a plaque marking 75 years since Cambridge was granted city status by King George VI. He was then given a book about the mosque.
Addressing the room, Charles said: “If I may say so, I’m so impressed by the quality of the design, of all the care and attention which has been lavished on it, and the fact you have a purpose-built mosque here with the community centre attached. It makes a huge contribution, I’m sure, not only to the Muslim community but to Cambridge itself. So I congratulate you, and I pray with all my heart that you continue with every possible success and that you continue your work together with other faiths in this area to set a remarkable example of integrated faith activity.”
Royals do not often remove their shoes in public but tend to do so out of respect when visiting religious buildings.
Charles previously removed his shoes at Brick Lane Mosque in 2023, when a hole in his sock was photographed and shared widely online.
Before travelling to Cambridge, Charles received Sir Keir Starmer at Buckingham Palace, who formally resigned as Prime Minister.
Charles then invited Andy Burnham to form a government, meeting him in the Chinese Dining Room.
Later on Monday, Charles also opened the Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge, a centre focused on net zero aviation and energy.
Queen Camilla did not join him, as she was visiting the Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney charity, which supports people experiencing homelessness.
