Prince Charles.Photo: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
Prince Charlesis celebrating the Black community in Britain.
The Prince of Wales, 73, has taken on a special role – editing the only national newspaper that serves the African-Caribbean community in the U.K.The Voicedebuted in 1982, and asked the royal to guest edit its upcoming 40th anniversary issue.
“Over the last four decades, with all the enormous changes that they have witnessed, Britain’s only surviving black newspaper has become an institution and a crucial part of the fabric of our society,” Charles said in a statement. “This is why I was so touched to be invited to edit this special edition,” he added, praising the paper’s legacy and impact.
The edition will highlight achievements across the Black community through the last four decades, pointing to the prince’s work with community leaders and charitable support.
Focusing on themes of “community cohesion, education, climate, the Commonwealth, faith and the arts,” interviews include conversations withIdris Elba, Bernardine Evaristo, Baroness Floella Benjamin, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Wanjira Matha.
Chris Jackson/Getty
In another feature, Benjamin, a former television presenter, opens up about her work with the Windrush Portraits project, whichPrince Charleslaunched to mark the “immeasurable contribution” of the Windrush generation to life int he U.K. Ten people are being painted, and the portraits will be unveiled next June.
Earlier this summer, Benjamin stepped out withPrince WilliamandKate Middletonat the unveiling of theNational Windrush Monumentat Waterloo Station.
Kate Middleton and Prince William at the unveiling of the Windrush memorial.John Sibley - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Baroness Doreen Lawrence – the mother of the lateStephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racially-motivated attack in London at age 18 – will discuss a new artistic scholarship fund for students from diverse backgrounds. The baroness will touch on the ongoing partnership between The Prince’s Foundation and The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, established in memory of her son, who dreamed of becoming an architect.
Mathai, meanwhile, will talk about the life and legacy of her late mother Wangari Maathai (the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize), climate justice and making change today.
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Commenting on the special issue,The Voice’seditor Lester Holloway said, “Our readers may be surprised at the parallels between the issues whichThe Voicehas campaigned on for four decades and the work the Prince of Wales has been involved in over the same period, often behind the scenes. In past decades these causes were once scorned and ridiculed, but today they are widely acknowledged.”
“Yet all the research tells us how far we have to go to be a truly equal society,” he continued “The Prince has an awareness of this, and that in itself is a reason to be hopeful.”
The Voiceis published monthly in London, and its 40th anniversary edition hits newsstands Sept. 1.
source: people.com
