King Charles Makes a Surprise Visit to a Syrian Restaurant
In an unexpected move, King Charles visited Syrian chef Imad Alarnab at his restaurant, Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, located in the vibrant Soho area of central London on Wednesday. The visit took place just days before the start of the holy month of Ramadan.
A video of King Charles meeting Alarnab at his restaurant was shared on the official British Royal Family’s social media page, capturing the warm encounter.
The king’s visit follows a previous meeting with Imad Alarnab
Who was invited to Buckingham Palace in November 2023. That invitation recognized Alarnab’s
remarkable contributions to charitable causes, refugee support, and the British community. Having
arrived in the UK as a refugee in 2015, Alarnab has since risen to become the owner of a well-known
restaurant in the heart of London.
Alarnab expressed his astonishment at the king’s visit, citing the security challenges involved in
arranging such an event, especially since his restaurant is situated on an upper floor of a small building
in central London.
During the visit, King Charles and his wife met Alarnab’s family, including his wife and daughters, who
were among the attendees. They were also joined by several prominent Syrian figures active in the UK
across various fields. Among them was filmmaker Waad Al-Khateab, who won the 2020 BAFTA Award
for her war documentary For Sama.
Chef Alarnab presented King Charles with a copy of his book, titled after his restaurant. The king was
visibly delighted to receive the gift, which included a personal note in Arabic signed by Alarnab.
Commenting on the gesture, King Charles said, “My name looks beautiful written in Arabic script.”
This heartwarming visit highlights the king’s appreciation for cultural diversity and the contributions of
immigrants to British society, making it a memorable moment ahead of Ramadan.
