Prince Charles became Patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust in 2015, taking over from the Queen. And this year, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27, the future king has commissioned portraits of seven Holocaust survivors to be displayed at Buckingham Palace.
“As the number of Holocaust survivors sadly, but inevitably, declines, my abiding hope is that this special collection will act as a further guiding light for our society, reminding us not only of history’s darkest days, but of humanity’s interconnectedness as we strive to create a better world for our children, grandchildren and generations as yet unborn; one where hope is victorious over despair and love triumphs over hate,” the Prince said in a statement today. A royal source said he has been working on the project since March 2020 and the portraits will be displayed in the Queen's Gallery starting January 27 in an exhibition called Seven Portraits: Surviving the Holocaust.
A BBC Two documentary has also been made about the project. Survivors: Portraits of the Holocaust follows the creation of the portraits and will tell the stories of the seven survivors. Now in their 90s, they were all children in Nazi camps and went on to make their lives in the U.K. The program will also follow the artists as they reflect on their time getting to know the survivors they have painted. “Throughout the programme, audiences will hear the testimonies of the remarkable men and women who witnessed one of the greatest atrocities in human history, and will meet the artists tasked with creating portraits that represent their pain and loss, as well as their dignity, light and hope,” the BBC said in a statement. “The portraits will stand as a lasting reminder of horrors which will one day be lost to living memory.”
The seven sitters and artists are:
- Helen Aronson painted by Paul Benney
- Lily Ebert painted by Ishbel Myerscough
- Manfred Goldberg painted by Clara Drummond
- Arek Hersh painted by Massimiliano Pironti
- Anita Lasker Wallfisch painted by Peter Kuhfeld
- Rachel Levy painted by Stuart Pearson Wright
- Zigi Shipper painted by Jenny Saville
The Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, Karen Pollock, described the initiative as "incredible." "These Holocaust survivors endured the very worst. They were rounded up into ghettos, sent to concentration camps and enslaved as forced labourers," she said. "To survive the concentration and death camps and 77 years later see their portraits displayed in Buckingham Palace is very special indeed, and a poignant and fitting testament to their lasting contribution to this country." Holocaust Memorial Day is marked in the U.K on January 27 each year, which is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Survivors: Portraits of the Holocaust will also be broadcast on BBC World News over two episodes on February 12 and 19.
Town & Country Contributing Editor Victoria Murphy has reported on the British Royal Family since 2010. She has interviewed Prince Harry and has travelled the world covering several royal tours. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America. Victoria authored Town & Country book The Queen: A Life in Pictures, released in 2021.
