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King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London on Wednesday, October 29, to mark its 30th anniversary. The royal couple took part in prayers at the Neasden Temple, which is Europe’s first traditional Hindu stone temple, opened in 1995. Photos from the visit, shared on the royal couple’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, showed the King and Queen greeting devotees, joining prayers and walking through the temple with folded hands. King Charles’ Visit To Neasden Temple “Celebrating 30 years of Neasden Temple! Earlier today, The King and Queen visited Europe’s first traditional Hindu stone temple. During today’s engagement, Their Majesties met worshippers and representatives from community and social impact initiatives supported by the Temple, including The Felix Project and Women of the World (WoW),” read a post on the official X handle of The Royal Family. Reacting to the post, a social media user wrote, “Wonder if the lovely Queen Elizabeth II would celebrate this?” Celebrating 30 years of Neasden Temple! Earlier today, The King and Queen visited Europe’s first traditional Hindu stone temple. During today’s engagement, Their Majesties met worshippers and representatives from community and social impact initiatives supported by the Temple,… pic.twitter.com/b618lJthcU — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 29, 2025 According to AFP, King Charles was welcomed in a traditional Hindu ceremony. Head Priest Sadhu Yogvivekdas Swami performed the nadachadi ceremony, which is a sacred thread-tying ritual that symbolises peace and friendship. The monarch, who is 76 years old, removed his shoes before entering the main complex. The King and Queen were adorned with garlands of flowers and pearls as they toured the temple premises. Key Moments During the visit, 11-year-old Dev Patel from south-east London performed a petal-offering ritual before the sacred image of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The King stood with folded hands in respect as he observed the ceremony. He later extended his greetings to devotees and wished them a “belated Happy Diwali.” According to the news agency, the King also witnessed the abhishek ceremony of Shri Nilkanth Varni Maharaj (the teenage form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan) carried out by the Patel family. The Mandir’s Message In his welcome address, Sadhu Yogvivekdas Swami described the temple as “the home of God,” saying it had become “an integral part of the religious, cultural landscape of our great nation.” “This is all inspired and guided by our spiritual leader, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, and the values that he upholds – values such as compassion, respect, harmony, values such as humility, sincerity and integrity. All values that Their Majesties have also espoused throughout a lifetime of public service,” he added. The priest also recalled King Charles’s previous visits to the temple (1996, 2007 and 2009) and expressed gratitude for his continued friendship and support over the years. Blessings And Future Projects From India, Mahant Swami Maharaj sent a video message where he offered prayers for the good health and happiness of the royal couple. Inside the temple’s main assembly hall, schoolchildren recited a Vedic peace prayer titled ‘Shanti Path’ in their honour. The King and Queen then toured the temple with Jitu Patel, Chair of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha UK. They admired the 10-metre-high central dome, known for its detailed craftsmanship. In the “Haveli” foyer, the couple also saw a model of the new BAPS Mandir being built in Paris, which will become France’s first traditional Hindu temple when it opens next year.
