On 22 June 1948, the Empire Windrush ship arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex, east of London, bringing the first of hundreds of thousands of people who came to Britain between 1948 and 1971 to help rebuild the country after the war. To mark the anniversary, church services, processions and exhibitions to pay tribute to the cultural contribution of the “Windrush generation” was held in London and across the country, with the events starting at the Tilbury Docks.
“Their contributions to Britain cannot be overstated,” Prince William, King Charles‘ eldest son and heir, said in a video message. “We are a better people today because the children and the grandchildren of those who came in 1948 have stayed and become part of who we are in 2023. And for that we are forever grateful.”
“We know they experienced hardships,” William said. “But they also experienced joy; and life did indeed change for them and their families.”
Windrush Day was marked on Thursday with scores of community and official events, including a reception hosted by King Charles III. Charles commissioned portraits of 10 Windrush passengers for the royal collection as a reflection of “ the immeasurable difference that they, their children and their grandchildren have made to this country.”
Twitter handle The Royal Family quoted The King as saying, “”It is, I believe, crucially important that we should truly see and hear these pioneers who stepped off the Empire Windrush at Tilbury in June 1948 – only a few months before I was born – and those who followed over the decades, to recognise and celebrate the immeasurable difference that they, their children and their grandchildren have made to this country.”
The King joined over 300 young people from schools across England, the Prince’s Trust, the Prince’s Foundation, Project Zero and the Amos bursary to recognise and celebrate #Windrush75 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
The Royal Family tweeted several photos of King Charles attending the Windsor event.
“History is, thankfully and finally, beginning to accord a rightful place to those men and women of the Windrush Generation. The ten portraits of this series, together with the tributes to other members of that indomitable generation, are a small way to honour their remarkable legacy,” said The King.
(With inputs from Reuters)