King Opens State Rooms at Windsor Castle to Muslims Breaking Ramadan Fast

The King has opened state rooms at Windsor Castle to Muslims breaking Ramadan fast for the first time.

On Sunday, more than 360 guests from all backgrounds gathered in St George’s Hall for Iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal during the holy month of Ramadan.

It marks the first time in the royal residence’s thousand-year history that an open Iftar event was held in the hall famous for hosting special banquets during state visits.

The King, who has promoted and celebrated interfaith dialogue and religious diversity throughout his working life, is understood to have been “kept aware of” and “supportive” of the event by the Royal Collection Trust (RCT) and the Ramadan Tent Project (RTP).

The gathering is part of the RCT’s aim to make sure access to its palaces is “enjoyed by everyone”, said Simon Maples, Windsor Castle’s visitor director.

The Berkshire royal residence welcomed Iftar attendees for the first time in history last year, but in the Learning Centre rather than the state apartments.

The holy month of Ramadan, which began last Friday evening, sees Muslims fast and refrain from eating or drinking between dawn and sunset for the duration of March.

Mr Maples said the monarch has been “championing religious diversity and encouraging interfaith conversation” for many years.

Omar Salha, the founder and chief executive of the RTP, told the BBC: “The King is an excellent ambassador for this cause and is committed to community cohesion.

“We are incredibly grateful for his support towards the British Muslim community.”

Sunday’s event included a call to prayer signalling the time to break the fast and prayers were then said before the meal was served.

Open Iftar, organised by the award-winning charity RTP with the RCT, will host similar events across the country in the coming weeks, including at Shakespeare’s Globe and the V&A museum in South Kensington.

‘Surreal and poignant moment’

Mr Salha added: “Breaking our fast and marking the holy month of Ramadan at Windsor Castle, one of the most famous and iconic royal landmarks in the world, is an incredibly surreal and poignant moment to share with people of all faiths and none.

“It serves as a powerful reminder of how proud we are to represent a pillar of Britain’s rich cultural ecology celebrating community, belonging and inclusion.”

Iftars are open to everyone, regardless of faith and background and the RCT’s website encourages “people of all faiths and none” to join in breaking fast at Windsor Castle.

Guests who attended the event started with a self-guided tour of the state apartments before dining in the famed St George’s Hall.

One attendee told the BBC: “I’ve never been to Windsor Castle before, so this is an awesome experience. The first time to be here and to do it in a Islamic way – amazing.”

A former history student added: “To mix my Muslim identity with that historical knowledge [in Windsor Castle] is a real privilege.”