The King and The Queen Consort visit East London

Published 01 March 2023

The King in East London

Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort today visited the heart of the British Bangladeshi community in Brick Lane, meeting charities and businesses. 

Brick Lane is at the heart of the East End and is one of London’s most iconic streets. Historically it's been home to French Huguenot and Jewish immigrants, and now it's a centre for the Bangladeshi community. Along with its rich heritage, Brick Lane is known for its food and the famous selection of curry restaurants. The short stretch of Bangladeshi restaurants at the southern end of Brick Lane is known as Banglatown, home to many annual street festivals including the Boishakhi Mela, the Brick Lane Festival and the Curry Festival.

At Altab Ali Park, Their Majesties met individuals who were actively involved in the anti-racism movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The King and The Queen Consort also spoke to young people who have worked on projects related to anti-racism, the preservation of Bangla language and representatives of the Altab Ali Foundation.

Altab Ali was a young Bangladeshi man murdered at the age of 25, stabbed on 4 May 1978 in Adler Street by three teenage boys as he walked home from work. To commemorate the death of Altab Ali, Their Majesties then planted a tree during today's visit to the area.

Welcomed by primary school children and locals to Brick Lane, The King and The Queen Consort saw the Banglatown arch and a new street mural 'The Land is Calling', commissioned as part of the Bangladeshi 50th Anniversary celebrations.

At the Graam Bangla Restaurant, Their Majesties met women who are involved in the British Bangladeshi Power & Inspiration organisation, demonstrating the strength and diversity of women of Bangladeshi heritage today.

The King and The Queen Consort then walked to Brick Lane Mosque, where they met a local author and heard about the unique history of the building from a Church to a Synagogue to the present Mosque. The Mosque is at the heart of Brick Lane's community today, representing stories of immigration, identity, and community aspiration. It provided vital services to the community throughout the Covid-19 lockdowns including 24-hour funeral services at the height of the pandemic.

This afternoon, The King continued their visit to East London to mark the University of East London's 125th anniversary. As part of the visit, His Majesty opened The Hospital & Primary Care Training Hub at the University, which will train future generations of NHS professionals and work towards tackling health inequalities across the United Kingdom.

His Majesty heard from current students and teaching staff about the state-of-the-art facilities, and how the new hub will transform university-level training for frontline medical roles. The hub has a range of wards that simulate clinical wards such as Accident and Emergency and Intensive Care, to enable students to undertake their training in an environment that replicates real-life situations.

The King also spoke to students taking part in practical assignments on a range of wards such as the Intensive Care Ward and the multi-professional Healthcare Ward. The Intensive Care Ward simulates a fully operational intensive care unit using Virtual Reality and simulation technology, whilst the multi-professional Healthcare Ward trains students from disciplines including nursing, podiatry, sports therapy and occupational therapy.

The King visits the Hospital & Primary Care Training Hub

The Hospital and Primary Care Training Hub is also home to the BabyDevLab, where babies and their caregivers can take part in child and parent friendly psychological research, using wearable tech, with the aim of understanding how babies think and behave. The Lab is involved in a range of pioneering projects, including how babies’ language and attention develops in the early years of their lives.

The Hospital & Primary Care Training Hub

In the University's Great Hall, The King will toured an exhibition curated by students working towards pioneering advances in sustainability. The University of East London has a range of courses across the University’s departments which focus on sustainability, including the BA in Sustainable Fashion and Management and the MSc in Sustainable Tourism Development & Management. His Majesty met students exhibiting their own projects and heard how the University itself is committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030.

Related content

A message of condolence from The King to the President of India following the train crash in Odisha

I would like to express our deepest possible condolences to the families of all those who have so tragically lost their lives.

05 June 2023

Remarks by His Majesty The King in Bucharest, Romania

Domnule Presedinte, doamnelor si domnilor, Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot describe what great pleasure it gives me to be visiting Romania once again. Thank you...

02 June 2023
Press release 25 May 2023

The King and Queen visit Northern Ireland: Day 2

Read more
Feature

The Queen's Green Canopy

A living legacy of over three million trees planted across the United Kingdom in honour of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen's Green Canopy
Press release 24 May 2023

The King and Queen visit Northern Ireland: Day 1

Read more

A Speech by His Majesty The King at the Presentation of new Standards and Colours at Buckingham Palace

It is the greatest possible privilege to be able to present a new Standard and Colours to you today in a unique Tri-Service event in preparation for our Coronation.

27 April 2023
Feature

100 Coronation Facts

As Their Majesties' Coronation draws closer, read on for 100 fun facts about The King, The Queen Consort and the history of Coronations.
The King and The Queen Consort
Press release 23 April 2023

New appointments to the Order of the Garter

Read more
Feature

The Coronation Emblem

Find out more about the meaning behind the emblem design ....
Emblem bunting

A Speech by His Majesty The King at the State Banquet at Schloss Bellevue, Berlin

Over all these years, and in so many ways, I have been struck by the warmth of the friendship between our nations and by the vitality of our partnership

29 March 2023

A Speech by His Majesty The King at the German Bundestag

I can hardly begin to express the pride I feel in the strength of the partnership between our two countries. Germany, her people and distinctive culture have made such a...

30 March 2023

A speech by His Majesty The King at the 200th Sovereign's Parade, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

It is the lifelong friendships which are forged through shared hardship, and the humour that you find in the darkest hours of the coldest, wettest nights, which remain with...

18 April 2023
News

State Visit to Germany

29 March 2023
State Visit to Germany
News

The Coronation Invitation

04 April 2023
The Coronation Invitation
News

Royal Maundy Service 2023

06 April 2023
The King and The Queen Consort at York Minster
News

The Coronation Regalia

09 April 2023
The Imperial State Crown, The Orb and St Edward's Crown
News

The Coronation Procession

17 April 2023
The Gold State Coach
Feature

Downloadable image for the Coronation

Download an image to mark the Coronation ...
The King and The Queen Consort

A Speech by His Majesty The King at the Presentation of Loyal Addresses by Privileged Bodies

You underpin the very foundations upon which our country is built

09 March 2023
News

Commonwealth Day 2023

13 March 2023
The King signs the Commonwealth Charter