King Charles has paid a visit to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, commemorating the centre’s 40th anniversary and highlighting its mission to foster understanding between Western and Islamic academic traditions.
The monarch, Patron of the institution since 1993, officially opened the newly named King Charles III Wing during a ceremonial visit on Thursday, underscoring his decades-long relationship with the centre.
He also unveiled the King Charles III Programme, an ambitious initiative set to offer fellowships, leadership development for young Muslims, environmental conferences, and scholarship opportunities aimed at advancing global dialogue and academic collaboration.
The anniversary event drew several distinguished attendees, including Dr Farhan Nizami, Director of the Centre; Lord William Hague, Chancellor of Oxford University; Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; and Professor Irene Tracey, Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
Founded in 1985, the centre has evolved into a leading institution connecting the British Royal Family’s interest in interfaith dialogue with scholarly research. Its role in promoting multidisciplinary studies of the Islamic world was further elevated in 2012, when it received a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth II.
According to BBC News, the King’s ties to the centre are long-standing. As Prince of Wales in 1993, he delivered the centre’s inaugural lecture, “Islam and the West,” which launched the Distinguished Lecture Series. This influential series has since hosted world leaders, prominent academics, and policymakers from around the globe.
The King’s previous visits include the opening of the purpose-built campus on Marston Road, which features a library, lecture theatres, exhibition spaces, and landscaped gardens—one of which now bears the name King Charles III Garden.
This week’s ceremony began in the main auditorium, where Dr Nizami opened the programme with a welcome address. His Majesty followed with brief remarks before joining a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the King Charles III Wing.
This new facility will serve as the base for the King Charles III Programme, which incorporates the King Charles III Fellowship, the Young Muslim Leadership Programme, and a series of environmental initiatives—highlighting the monarch’s ongoing commitment to education, youth empowerment, and sustainability.
After the formalities, King Charles toured the wing’s ground floor and later attended a reception in the King Charles III Garden, where he met with scholars, trustees, and interfaith leaders in a moment of reflection and shared vision for the future.