Prince William Praises His Great-Grandmother Princess Alice’s ‘Great Courage’ In Holocaust Memorial Speech For HIding Jewish Family In Home During WWII

Jan 28, 2020

Prince William was joined by his wife Kate as he attended the UK Holocaust Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

The Duke of Cambridge gave a speech in which he honored his great-grandmother Princess Alice, who is Prince Phillip’s mother, for hiding a jewish family in her home during WWII. 

For his speech, Prince William read an excerpt from a letter written by Evy Cohen, the great-granddaughter of Rachel Cohen, whom Princess Alice hid from the Nazis. The letter praised Princess Alice’s 'incredible courage' and said her story 'must keep being told in her memory'. 

“When the persecution of the Jews by the Germans began, Princess Alice asked to be informed about the fate of the Cohen family,” Prince William read out loud.

“Having been informed by friends and by her lady in waiting about the plight of Mrs. Cohen and her young daughter, the Princess decided to offer her hospitality to the two ladies; in fact to hide them in her home despite the danger this entailed.

“The Princess put a small two-room apartment on the third floor at the disposal of Mrs. Cohen and her daughter.” His wife, Kate Middleton, was visibly emotional as he read the letter.

"The great-granddaughter of Rachel Cohen, Evy Cohen, said this two years ago: 'My family would not exist without the courageous act of Princess Alice. "Her story of incredible courage must keep being told in her memory."

'My generation, the past generation, and the future generation are, and will eternally be, grateful to his great-grandmother Princess Alice for the great act of bravery, risking her own life to take in a family in need."

Did you know about Princess Alice saved a Jewish family in WWII? Let us know in the comments - and make sure you pass this to your friends and family!