LONDON
Even as Goans in the UK have mourned the demise of late Queen Elizabeth II, they have hailed the new King Charles III and some even recalled fond memories of their interaction with the new monarch.
One such Goan, Mervyn Maciel (93), who had served as Senior Civil Servant of Her Majesty’s Overseas Civil Service in Kenya before moving to the UK, got the privilege of meeting the late Queen and also had the honour of meeting the new King five years ago.
“The occasion was a farewell luncheon of the Overseas Service Pensioners’ Association and it took place at the Great Connaught Rooms in London on June 8, 2017,” recalled Maciel, one of the senior-most Goans in the UK.
Maciel then shared a photo of his conversation with King Charles up-close during that event and he was asked about the nature of their conversation.
“In my interaction with the then Prince Charles, he mentioned that he’d been to Lake Turkana and was pleased to hear I had served in Turkana (Kenya) in the early 1950s.”
“I also thanked him for the over-generous donation he’d made to the Charity I have been doing voluntary work for over 25 years - Aid to the Church in Need,” Maciel added.
Asked to describe King Charles, Maciel replied: “I found King Charles a very easy man to get along with, no airs or graces!”
