King Charles Swaps Handshakes for a Traditional ‘Namaste’ as Bollywood Band Welcomes Him in Croydon

King Charles stole hearts with one simple move during a special public engagement.

On Friday, King Charles visited the Surrey Street Market to celebrate its 750th anniversary. The historic milestone also coincided with his birthday eve, making it a very special occasion. He was presented with a cake to mark both events, which he animatedly cut with a butcher’s knife. Fans and onlookers also became a part of the sweet moment by singing to the monarch. Amongst them was a group of Indian ladies dressed in traditional attire, and their interaction with the King went on to steal the show. 

While most British citizens might go for a handshake to greet someone, the same practice doesn’t necessarily apply in Indian communities. Many Indians usually greet each other with a traditional hand gesture of  ‘namaste’, which symbolizes respect and acknowledgement. The Indian ladies who stood next to Charles during his cake cutting greeted him with the gesture, and to everyone’s absolute delight, the King returned it with his own ‘namaste’. The simple move instantly became one of the highlights of the day. Watch the video here!

However, that was not the only Indian element in Charles’ visit to the Surrey Street Market. The outing was accompanied by a Bollywood brass band, which was among the entertainment groups and created a celebratory atmosphere in the street market ahead of the monarch’s visit. 

Before the Surrey Street Market, the King visited the BRIT School in Croydon, where he viewed a student fashion showcase, dance rehearsals, and a musical performance of ‘Chess’.