King Charles III received a translation of "Witold’s Report" during his meeting with Poles in London

King Charles III received a translation of „Witold’s Report” during his meeting with Poles in London

05/02/2025
Poles in UK

During today’s visit at the Polish Social and Cultural Association in London, King Charles III welcomed the Polish community in London, although no speech was planned for the monarch. Among those present at the event, the visit was considered an act of respect and will for good cooperation with Poland and Polish people, of which some 700,000 live in the UK. It was also connected to the King’s recent visit to Poland on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz German death camp liberation.

From the left: Marcin Kalinowski, POSK Chairman, King Charles III, Polish Ambassador to UK Piotr Wilczek, Alicja Donimirska, President of the Federation of the Poles in the UK, Wiktor Moszczyński POSK Board Member. Photo: British Poles

His Majesty arrived at 11:20 AM and was greeted by the Polish Ambassador, Piotr Wilczek, and POSK Chairman, Marcin Kalinowski. It is worth noting that he last visited POSK as HRH The Prince of Wales 15 years ago.

Artistic show prepared for the King’s visit. Photo: British Poles

The King was later guided around an exhibition of paintings by Felix Fabian and saw another exhibition, Trails of Hope: Odyssey of Freedom, organised by the Institute of National Remembrance. The exhibition highlights the Polish contribution to the Allied war effort and the long journey of the 2nd Polish Corps through Palestine and Italy, which ultimately led to their arrival in England and the establishment of a vibrant Polish community in the UK.

Polish traditional refreshments. Photo: British Poles

Later the King talked to some 100 members of POSK, Board of Trustees of POSK as well as Polish war veterans and cultural activists.

During the visit, the editor-in-chief of the British Poles, Maria Byczynski gifted the King with the English translation of “Witold’s Report”, a study prepared by Captain Witold Pilecki describing the situation and atrocities within the Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp.

The King’s visit comes after a controversial speech he gave in the Jewish Community Centre in Kraków in which he named the Jewish community, Roma-Sinti and LGBT people as victims of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi German death camp but never mentioned the Polish victims, of whom 70,000 were killed in the camp of some 200,000 incarcerated.

King Charles talks to Polish Defence Attache Col. Rafał Nowak. Photo: British Poles

You can read more about the King’s speech and visit to Poland in our article Poles forgotten as victims by the King during Auschwitz commemoration visit.

The Polish Social and Cultural Association in London was founded by the Polish community in the UK on the initiative of Professor Roman Wajda, who was also the first chairman of the institution. POSK promotes Polish culture and art. It is the home to the Polish Library in London, which was established in 1942, for temporary exhibitions, film screenings, and theatre performances.

Reportage author with Col. Eugeniusz Niedzielski, a 102-year-old, last living soldier of the General Maczek Armoured Division. Photo: British Poles

The King’s meeting with Poles in the UK highlights the enduring historical bonds and shared values between Poland and Britain. It fosters mutual respect and recognition of the Polish community’s contributions. Such gestures deepen diplomatic ties and strengthen the lasting friendship between our nations.