The Prince of Wales began an historic first visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories by touring Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, before meeting the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today.
Prince Charles, 71, arrived in Manger Square, the old Ottoman marketplace in the centre of the settlement, and was barely visible surrounded by police officers and a large entourage of dignitaries.
The royal then met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the official residence in Bethlehem, shaking his hand before sitting down for an official photocall and chat.
His visit to Bethlehem was not announced in advance and he appeared at ease with the crowd around him as he walked into the Mosque of Omar.
The mosque is opposite the Church of the Nativity which contains a grotto said to be the site where Jesus was born.
Prince Charles met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the official residence in Bethlehem, shaking his hand before sitting down for an official photocall and chat
The meeting took place on the second day of his two-day visit to Palestine and Israel, after he toured Bethlehem and Jerusalem earlier in the day
The Prince of Wales began an historic first visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories by touring Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ today, visiting the Mosque of Omar
The mosque is opposite the Church of the Nativity (pictured) which contains a grotto said to be the site where Jesus was born
The Prince of Wales during an ecumenical service at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on the second day of his visit
The heir to the throne was joined by Anton Salman, Mayor of Bethlehem, Palestine, and Kamel Hmeid, Governor of Bethlehem, as he toured the Islamic place of worship.
Prince Charles looked in good spirits as he arrived at the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his two-day trip to the Middle East on Friday.
The royal then visited then visited the place of Jesus’ birth inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
The Prince of Wales is on a two day trip to the Middle East, meeting with the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin, Holocaust survivors and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
His visit to Bethlehem was not announced in advance and he appeared at ease with the crowd around him as he walked into the Mosque of Omar
Britain’s Prince Charles shakes hands with people as he arrives to visit Omar mosque in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank of Palestine
The Manger inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on the second day of the Prince of Wales’ visit
Charles was seen putting on a friendly display as he shook hands with people as he arrives to visit Omar mosque in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank of Palestine.
His appearance came after he gave a speech during a Holocaust memorial ceremony attended by some 40 world leaders in Jerusalem on the first day of his visit.
Charles paid homage to his grandmother, Princess Alice, for sheltering Jews in Nazi-occupied Greece during World War II, on Thursday.
Princess Alice of Battenberg and Greece was the mother-in-law of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth. A devout Christian, she died in London in 1969 and had asked to be buried in Jerusalem, next to her aunt, who like Alice had become a nun and founded a convent.
Pictured: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales arrives at the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem,
Charles’ tour – the highest level visit by a member of the monarchy to Israel and the Palestinian areas – marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau
Prince Charles meets with Palestinian Muslim clerics outside Bethlehem’s Omar Ben al-Khattab mosque
The Prince of Wales (second left) is shown the manger during a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on the second day of his visit
The Prince of Wales (centre) during a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on the second day of his visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories
Prince Charles (C) signs the guest book during his visit to Omar mosque in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
During his speech Prince Charles also urged nations to learn the ‘lessons’ of the Holocaust as he joined world leaders, amid the continued conflict of the Israel occupied Palestinian territories.
Charles’ tour – the highest level visit by a member of the monarchy to Israel and the Palestinian areas – marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The heir to the throne’s visit follows one made by his son the Duke of Cambridge who toured Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2018.
Charles has travelled to Jerusalem to attend the funerals of President Shimon Peres in 2016 and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995.
Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International UK’s Campaigns Director, said: ‘Prince Charles’ words will resonate with many Palestinians because they appear to signal a recognition that half-a-century of Israeli military occupation has produced huge injustice.
‘For more than 50 years, Palestinians under Israeli occupation have endured years of discriminatory restrictions on their movement, with roadblocks, militarised checkpoints and off-limits roads set aside for the exclusive use of those in the illegal Israeli settlements.
‘In a discrete yet meaningful fashion, Prince Charles appears to have offered genuine sympathy and solidarity with Palestinians over their years of suffering.
‘One concrete step towards ‘freedom, justice and equality’ for Palestinians must include the UK Government finally banning the sale in the UK of goods from the illegal Israeli settlements.’
Prince Charles (L) visits the compound of the Church of the Nativity
Children wait for the arrival of Britain’s Charles, Prince of Wales in Manger Square in Bethlehem
Pictured: Prince Charles visits the Mosque of Omar in Bethlehem
Charles has travelled to Jerusalem to attend the funerals of President Shimon Peres in 2016 and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 – he is seen at the Church of Nativity
The Prince of Wales is shown traditional items of food during a visit to a traditional olive grove and fruit orchard in an historic convent in Bethlehem on the second day of his trip
The Prince of Wales takes part in a planting ceremony during a visit to a traditional olive grove and fruit orchard in an historic convent in Bethlehem
rince of Wales, poses for a picture with nuns and clergymen at the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem