King Charles has paid a deeply personal tribute following the death of Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and half-sister of Anne Frank, who died in London on January 3 at the age of 96.
The king, alongside Queen Camilla, said they were heartbroken at the loss of a woman whose life story was a powerful rebuke to hatred and intolerance.
Reflecting on her legacy, he praised Eva’s extraordinary strength, describing her as someone who transformed unimaginable trauma into a lifelong mission of education, compassion and courage.
Born Eva Geiringer in Vienna in 1929, her youth was disrupted by the rise of Nazism.
After fleeing to the Netherlands, Eva and her family spent two years in hiding before being handed over to the Nazis in 1944.
On her 15th birthday, she and her mother were deported to Auschwitz, where Eva survived typhus and was forced to sort the belongings of those sent to their deaths.
His father and brother did not survive the camp. Eva and her mother were liberated by Soviet forces in January 1945.
Rather than retreat from the past, Eva chose to confront it head on, becoming a tireless voice for Holocaust remembrance and co-founding the Anne Frank Trust UK in 1991.
Queen Camilla worked closely with Eva through the charity, while King Charles was memorably photographed dancing alongside her and other survivors during a visit to a Jewish community center in 2022.
In an emotional statement, the king said he and Queen Camilla felt “privileged and proud” to have known Eva, adding that her life’s work would continue to resonate for generations.
Eva’s family also posted a heartfelt message, expressing pride in her achievements while asking for privacy while she grieves.
They confirmed plans for a memorial event at a later date, noting that her legacy will live on through the books, films and educational resources she leaves behind.
