Princess Kate's emotional reunion during joint outing with Prince William
The Princess of Wales had an emotional reunion with two Holocaust survivors she photographed in 2020, ahead of Monday's UK National Ceremony to mark 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Kate hugged Yvonne Bernstein and Stephen Frank at a reception for around 50 survivors of the Nazi campaign and survivors of subsequent genocides, telling them it was a "treat" to see them again.
As she sat catching up with Yvonne, the two women held hands, with Yvonne stroking the Princess's arm and thanking her for coming.
"It was such a treat for me to come and see an old friend," said Kate, who wore a black coat over black wide-leg trousers and a black sweater with a five-string pearl necklace.
Watch their sweet reunion here...
She had greeted the 87-year-old by saying: “It’s so nice to see you,” and hearing that Yvonne had suffered some health problems, she added: "You've had such a hard time, haven’t you?"
Kate also shared a warm hug with Stephen, 89, who thanked her for sending him a Christmas card and the two chatted about his family.
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William sat with Polish born Alfred Garwood, who survived Bergen-Belsen as a child and Bosnian genocide survivor Sabina Kadic-Mackenzie, who now lives in Liverpool.
Both the Prince and Princess discussed their desire to teach their children about the Holocaust, with William saying: "George is getting to the age where he’s starting to understand things. So it's getting interesting to talk to him about what happened."
Apologising that they couldn't spend longer talking, he said: "There is a lot of history at this table, we need to hear it all."
Kate asked Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines: "Do you write a diary? It’s so important that these stories are written down. They are still relevant stories."
On arrival the couple were welcomed by Olivia Marks-Woldman, HMD chief executive and Laura Marks, the charity’s chair of trustees.
"I can't believe it's been 80 years," said William. "It's staggering."
Telling the Princess she was glad she was feeling well, Kate replied: "Thank you, it's good to be able to be here."
Speaking ahead of her reunion with Stephen and Yvonne, she added: "It will be good to see them again."
"We are glad we are here," said William. "It's important to be here."
The royal couple then joined 50 Holocaust survivors for a photograph, along with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
Other politicians meeting survivors and their families in the reception included home secretary Yvette Cooper, former home secretary Sajid Javid and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey.
Kate posed for a photograph with Bergen-Belsen survivor Rachel Levy and another survivor, Robert George Berkowitz told the Princess: "William is the luckiest man in the world to have you!"
She giggled and replied: "I will tell him that!"
Inside the Guildhall's Great Hall, the royal couple watched on solemnly as survivors shared their testimonies.
William then gave a reading, telling guests: "I am honoured to join you today to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and to remember the millions murdered during the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides.
"We also remember those survivors who have lived with scars, both mental and physical.
"Their bravery, in sharing with us the most harrowing moments of their lives, are extremely powerful and ensure that we never forget. I assure them we never will."
He read an extract from the book Holocaust Heroes, which told how his great-grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, protected a Jewish family from the Nazis in Athens.
He ended by saying: "It has been a great honour for Catherine and I to join you all today.”
Speaking afterwards, Stephen, who was just nine and imprisoned at Theresienstadt when Auschwitz was liberated in 1945, said of his reunion with the Princess: "She's just such a darling, you know? She's just such a lovely person.
"My grandchildren will be thrilled when I tell them all about it when I get home. Kate is warm and kind and just a lovely person. [It was] lovely to see her. And she looked well, I thought, as well. I asked her how she was, and she said she was fine, and that's a good thing too."
