A Truly Special Afternoon: Welcoming His Majesty to Oxford

It was with enormous pride this afternoon that I joined the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and the Lord Mayor of Oxford in welcoming His Majesty King Charles III to our city—on what was a landmark occasion for one of Oxford’s most important institutions.

We gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies—an institution that began life in the humblest of ways but now stands proudly among the architectural treasures of our dreaming spires. From its origins in “little more than a hut,” as the King recalled with warmth and humour, the Centre has grown into a globally respected hub of scholarship, dialogue and mutual understanding.

As Patron, His Majesty has long championed the Centre’s role in fostering interfaith dialogue and strengthening the bonds between cultures. His address today was a powerful reaffirmation of those values. He spoke of the Centre’s commitment to “objective scholarship and international co-operation, underpinned by principles of dialogue, deep understanding and mutual respect”—qualities that feel more essential than ever in our complex and often divided world.

It was particularly moving to witness the King formally inaugurate the new King Charles III Wing, which will house a series of future-facing programmes including a Young Muslim Leadership Programme and vital conferences on the environment and sustainability—issues close to His Majesty’s heart.

We were joined by an impressive array of guests, including Prince Turki bin Faisal, William Hague as Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and long-time supporters of the Centre from across the academic and diplomatic world. The presence of former home secretary Jack Straw and former attorney general Dominic Grieve, among others, reminded us how the Centre has become a place not just of learning, but of influence and policy engagement.

As we processed through the Centre’s elegant spaces—built in the traditions of Islamic architecture yet seamlessly woven into Oxford’s landscape—I was struck once again by the quiet power of institutions like this. They are bridges. They are homes for thought. And they are beacons of hope.

I left the event feeling inspired, proud of my county and my city, and grateful to have been a small part of this historic day.