ijust find myself kneeling down and saying to her, will you say a prayer for me at this time? she stood up. because, normally, you kneel and she sits in the chair. but she stood up. no word was said. about three minutes. and she said, amen. i will never know what kind of prayers she prayed, but i just felt within myself, actually, i m in front of a very, very humble, holy person. in recent decades in particular, the queen s work to include those of other faiths or no faith, visiting temples and synagogues and gurdwaras. and in 2002, she became the first monarch to visit a british mosque in scunthorpe. i ve spoken with the man who presented her with a koran. he says now that in the months
actually, i am in front of a very, very humble, holy person. in recent decades in particular, the queen has worked to include those of other faiths or no faith, visiting temples and synagogues and gurdwaras. and in 2002 she became the first monarch to visit a british mosque, in scunthorpe. afzal khan was the man who presented her with the koran then. he says now that, in the months of fear and division following the 9/11 attacks, that visit had a profound impact. we were suffering in a way that we were frightened. we needed some sort of support from someone, and that support came in from the queen, and that gave us something that made us part of british society. after her visit, we were feeling that we are the same. it doesn t matter if anyone shouted at us, terrorists, we are still british.
i m just grateful that we ve got her. of course, she s appointed bishops and archbishops as part of her role. but every year in christmas broadcasts, there are insights into the way the queen s faith guides her more broadly. and those who spent time in her presence will talk of moments when that shone through. ijust find myself kneeling down and saying to her, will you say a prayer for me at this time? she stood up. because, normally, you kneel and she sits in the chair. but she stood up. no word was said. about three minutes. and she said, amen. i will never know what kind of prayers you prayed, but i just felt within myself, actually, i m in front of a very, very humble, holy person. in recent decades in particular, the queen s work to include those of other faiths or no faith,
actually, i am in front of a very, very humble, holy person. in recent decades in particular, the queen has worked to include those of other faiths or no faith, visiting temples and synagogues and gurdwaras. and in 2002 she became the first monarch to visit a british mosque, in scunthorpe. afzal khan was the man who presented her with the koran then. he says now, and in the months of fear and division following 9/11 attacks, that visit had a profound impact. we were suffering in a way that we were frightened. we needed some sort of support from someone. and that support came in from the queen. and that gave us something that made us part of british society. after her visit, we were feeling that we are the same. it doesn t matter if anyone shouted at us, terrorists, we are still british.