King Charles marks significant milestone on Queen Camilla’s big day

King Charles III appeared in good spirits as he stepped out to mark a milestone on his wife Queen Camilla’s 78th birthday.

The 76-year-old monarch unveiled the newly designated King Charles III Wing at Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, commemorating the institution’s fortieth anniversary in the centre’s mission to bridge Western and Islamic academic traditions.

The monarch, who has served as the centre’s Patron since 1993, strengthened his relationship with the centre.

The visit, which comes on Queen Camilla’s special day, also saw the launch of the King Charles III Programme, a comprehensive initiative that will encompass fellowships, leadership development for young Muslims, environmental conferences, and various scholarship opportunities.

The anniversary celebration brought together prominent figures including Dr Nizami, the centre’s Director, Lord Hague, Chancellor of Oxford University, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Professor Irene Tracey, Oxford’s Vice Chancellor.

Founded in 1985, the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies serves as a crucial meeting point between Western and Islamic academic communities, contributing to multidisciplinary studies of the Islamic world.

The institution received a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth II in 2012, cementing its status as a leading academic centre. As Prince of Wales in 1993, Charles delivered the centre’s inaugural lecture titled “Islam and the West,” which established the Distinguished Lecture Series.