King Charles opens new centre for Ukrainian refugees in London

The King's opened a new welcome centre for Ukrainian refugees in the capital.

Charles toured the facility in central London with Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The welcome centre is a partnership between the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family in London and the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain.

It is designed to help new arrivals from Ukraine, providing them with advice and support on settling and long-term living in the UK.

Charles unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of the centre.

Bishop Nowakowski thanked him for his support.

"Your Majesty, I have the great pleasure of welcoming you to our Ukrainian Welcome Centre," he said.

"I also want to express my gratitude to you, sir, for being here right after the invasion of Ukraine in the first days of March, with Her Majesty the Queen Consort.

"This really inspired us, this really gave us a lot of assistance."

He said he hoped that the next time the King visited would be after Ukraine had won the war.

Charles unveiled the plaque, which read: "To commemorate the official opening of the Ukrainian Welcome Centre by His Majesty King Charles III."

He then wished the attendees Merry Christmas in Ukrainian.

Bishop Nowakowski also presented the King with a special gift.

"We have a picture that has become famous worldwide..." he said.

Charles burst into laughter as he was handed a framed photograph of him dancing the traditional Ukrainian Hopak dance in 1981 with a group of folk dancers in Derby.

"This was taken when you were in Derby visiting the Ukrainian community," Bishop Nowakowski said.

"I have to say that throughout the Ukrainian diaspora this is one of our most cherished pictures, and I would like you to have it."

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