King Charles Expresses Pride in Artisans Supported by His Charity
King Charles has warmly told artists working with a charity he founded two decades ago in Afghanistan, "I'm so proud of you all." The monarch and Queen Camilla attended a special exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of Turquoise Mountain, held at The Garrison Chapel within London's Chelsea Barracks development.
Celebrating Two Decades of Craftsmanship
The charity, established by Charles when he was Prince of Wales in 2006, was created with the mission to revive historic areas and preserve traditional crafts. Today, Turquoise Mountain supports artisans in Afghanistan, Jordan, Myanmar, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia, helping them access global markets and secure training and employment opportunities.
During the visit, Charles and Camilla were guided through the exhibition by former politician Rory Stewart, the co-host of The Rest Is Politics podcast and founding director of Turquoise Mountain, along with his wife Shoshana, who serves as the charity's president.
Personal Interactions and Artistic Demonstrations
Fayza Al-Mansouri, a palm weaver from Saudi Arabia, demonstrated her technique to the King. Charles expressed his pride in the artisans and inquired if she learned the art from her mother. After meeting the artists and admiring their work, the King and Queen were presented with traditional Syrian jewellery boxes, each bearing their ciphers and embossed with mother of pearl inlay, crafted by artisan Moataz Hammoush.
Charles and Camilla were invited to apply the finishing touches by placing the final pieces of mother of pearl onto their respective boxes. Speaking to the Press Association via a translator, Mr Hammoush described the moment as a mix of pride and recognition, stating, "It's very difficult to describe the feeling. It's a mix between being very proud to present my work to King Charles, and the fact that it's being recognised by him, and seen by him, and also received by him."
Impact and Challenges of the Charity
Mr Hammoush highlighted how Turquoise Mountain connected him to markets, brands, and designers he would not otherwise have accessed. He added, "(I'm proud of) the fact that I'm celebrating my cultural heritage and the traditions that I have been learning and passing on... And, now, seeing King Charles holding a piece of mother of pearl and inlaying it, it makes me proud of my craft, traditions and cultural heritage."
At the exhibition's opening, Shoshana Stewart paid tribute to the King's role, saying, "This is the community of people, Your Majesty, that you have put together. Above all, I want to thank you. There is no one else who could have created this project." She noted that Turquoise Mountain has faced numerous challenges, including the ongoing war in Palestine and a coup in Myanmar in 2021, but the King's vision remains a powerful influence globally.
The exhibition, titled "Craftsmanship and Community: 20 Years of Turquoise Mountain," opens to the public on February 12 at The Garrison Chapel, showcasing the enduring legacy of the charity's work in supporting artisans and preserving cultural heritage.
