The King heard first-hand about the experiences of charity health workers in the Middle East as he thanked the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) for its fundraising efforts.
Charles visited a London church to meet DEC staff, volunteers, charity fundraisers and aid workers, and heard about the demanding experiences of those working in Gaza to provide medical care to the population.
He went on an impromptu walkabout outside St Peter’s Church in Notting Hill and chatted to a couple from Texas, in the US, who described the experience as an “oh my god” moment.
The King talked to paediatric nurse Becky Platt, who works at the Royal London Hospital and spent just over a month working in Gaza earlier this year.
She said afterwards: “One of the particular challenges for us was that we were managing children with significant injuries – blast injuries, traumatically amputated limbs.”
The nurse who was working for Save the Children, a DEC member organisation, added: “The pain relief we had at that stage was paracetamol and ibuprofen, you might take that for a headache but if you’ve had your leg blown off you want something a bit stronger than that, so that was a real challenge.”
Saleh Saeed, the DEC’s chief executive, said the King, who has supported its work for many years, thanked the committee, its supporters and member charities and had personal briefings about the organisation’s work.
He added: “He’s been observing and following events in the Middle East and Ukraine… so he’s a great humanitarian and we’re always in touch.”
He added: “So for him to agree to an event like this, where he’s able to hear about the response, but also to thank the incredible volunteers and staff of the DEC and others who have made the appeal possible, is just obviously incredibly generous of him.”
The DEC, an umbrella group of leading humanitarian organisations, has raised £35 million in aid of people across the Middle East since launching an appeal in October, while its Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has made more than £440 million.
In a lighter moment the King was taken with Barney Guiton, 38, who raised £460 for the DEC’s appeal by growing a moustache.
He said: “The King asked me if I was going to grow it so I can wax it at the ends and he asked what my wife thought about it.
“She’s not a fan, I think she would sponsor me to shave it off.”
Charles chatted to DEC staff, representatives from its member charities and musician Myleene Klass, an ambassador of Save the Children UK, who has supported the DEC’s Middle East appeal.
The King was shown some of the vital medical aids used by healthcare workers, from “plumpy nuts” – nutritional food sachets given to children – to arm band measurers used to determine if a child is suffering from malnutrition.
Outside, a small group of well-wishers had gathered, including Angel and Ariana Salinas, on holiday from Texas, who were exploring the area when they saw Charles travelling by and decided to wait to see him leave the church.
Mr Salinas said: “The King wished us a merry Christmas and asked where we were from. It’s our first time in Europe, it was a bit of an ‘oh my god’ moment.
“We’re going to have some fish and chips, that will really seal the English experience.”
