King Charles III commemorates the opening of newly built Gurdwara in Luton

Image by Chris Jackson/Getty Images

King Charles III on Tuesday, 6 December, visited Luton to celebrate the official opening of a newly built Gurdwara.

He wore the traditional headscarf as a gesture of respect to the religion and those practicing it, and made a namaste gesture while speaking to volunteers, who presented him with a traditional scarf in the prayer hall.

Image by Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The King, who is also a member of the Sikh Congregation at the Gurdwara, was welcomed by Professor Gurch Randhawa, deputy lieutenant, and director of the Institute for Health Research at the University of Bedfordshire.

Before unveiling the plaque to commemorate the official opening of the Gurdwara, he bowed before the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book in Sikhism. He then sat cross-legged on the floor with an orange scarf draped over his suit.

King Charles also spoke to the volunteers of the Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen Stand discussing the effects of food insecurity in the neighbourhood.

Image by Chris Jackson/Getty Images

He also interacted with the pupils of the Sikh School, along with the volunteers who run it. He then spoke to bright young students studying Punjabi and traditional music.

During his visit to Bedfordshire, he also met The Ghana Society, Royal British Legion and Luton Town football academy members.

Kuldeep Singh Basra, a trustee of the Gurdwara, said that the monarch’s visit was an achievement for the Sikh community in Luton.

Prior to his visit to the Gurdwara, King Charles met the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Susan Lousada, and the mayor of Luton, Councillor Sameera Saleem at the town hall before meeting local groups and members of the public.

According to reports, an arrest was also made when a man allegedly threw an egg in the direction of the King during a walkabout.

A police spokesperson confirmed that a man in his 20s had been arrested on suspicion of common assault in Luton’s St George’s Square and was in custody for questioning.