The King and Queen celebrate the community in Walthamstow

At Waltham Forest Town Hall, The King and Queen met local community volunteers, young people, emergency services, front line staff and local community and faith representatives who provide support, advice, and guidance to all, including refugees who are looking to build a new life for themselves.    

Their Majesties spoke to Usman Khalid, a former asylum seeker who now trains refugees to be baristas trough his business, Havens Café. Usman and three of his trainees were on hand to demonstrate their skills and provide hot drinks to attendees.

The King also spoke to faith leaders and heard about local food banks which have been set up to help those in need. His Majesty donated two crates of food to be shared amongst the food banks.

Her Majesty donated 25 cuddly toys to Citizens UK, who support young asylum seekers being housed in the borough, and heard about local initiatives taking place in Waltham Forest to reduce violence against women and girls.

A Little Choir of Joy, a children's choir made up of 5 to 12 year-olds from across schools in the borough, performed festive songs during the engagement.
 
Later at the William Morris Gallery, The King toured the ‘William Morris & Art from the Islamic World’ exhibition, which explores the profound influence of Islamic art on William Morris, a principal founder of the Arts and Crafts Movement and one of Britain’s most important nineteenth century designer and thinker.

The exhibition features over 90 works and demonstrates how Morris’s pieces were directly inspired by Islamic surface design and its technical application.