Progressive Judaism’s Rabbi René Pfertzel met King Charles III when the Monarch visited New Malden.

Rabbi René, of Kingston Liberal Synagogue, was asked to represent the area’s Jewish community at the event, which took place at New Malden Methodist Church.

The purpose of the visit was for the King to find out more about the area’s Korean population, which is the largest in Europe.

During a tour around the church, he met various community, faith and cultural groups and signed the visitors book for a new exhibition marking the 140th anniversary of UK-Korea diplomatic relations, organised by the Korean British Cultural Exchange.

Rabbi René said: “I was invited in my role as Chair of the Kingston Faith & Belief Forum. In the little time we had, the King asked me about how as a Jewish community we are coping in the current circumstances. He assured us of his support. It was such an honour to be introduced to him, and I was delighted to meet a man with such humanity.”