Their Majesties The King and Queen visit Waltham Forest

Their Majesties The King and Queen visited Waltham Forest on Friday 20 December to celebrate the community spirit of our borough, highlighted recently by events in August. 

Their Majesties spent time meeting with local volunteers, community organisations and faith representatives, as well as emergency services and frontline staff. They all play an important role in making our community what it is, including making the borough a welcoming place for people from all over the world who want to call Waltham Forest home.

They were serenaded at Fellowship Square by The Little Choir of Joy, a children’s choir made up of 5- to 12-year-olds from schools across Waltham Forest, and met members of the public who had turned out to welcome them in Fellowship Square. Refreshments were provided by Haven Coffee, whose owner Usman Khalid is a former asylum seeker who now trains refugees to be baristas. 

After their reception at the Town Hall, the King and Queen were welcomed at the William Morris Gallery, in recognition of its 75th anniversary coming up in 2025. They were shown the current exhibition William Morris & Art from the Islamic World. 

The Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr Sharon Waldron, said: “It was an honour to once again welcome Their Majesties The King and Queen to Waltham Forest today. Their visit allowed them to meet some of the amazing people and organisations that make up our wonderfully diverse borough, a special moment for us all to remember. I’m proud to be part of such a fantastic community where we warmly welcome and celebrate people from all over the world.”

Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of the Council, said: “I’m delighted that Their Majesties The King and Queen visited Waltham Forest to celebrate the community spirit and togetherness in our borough. I join them in recognising the vital and valuable contribution of our local faith leaders and community groups, as well as emergency services and front-line staff. They, alongside all our residents from different faiths and backgrounds, make Waltham Forest the strong and united community it is."

Waltham Forest was recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary in 2023. It is one of the most diverse areas in the country, with an estimated 47 per cent of residents coming from a minority ethnic background.