‘Amazing atmosphere’ at Windsor Castle Iftar event

LONDON: For the first time in its 1,000-year history, an open Iftar event has been hosted in Windsor Castle’s State Apartments.

On Sunday, more than 350 people gathered in St George’s Hall to break their Ramazan fast.“It’s an amazing atmosphere - it just doesn’t feel real,” one attendee told the BBC.

The holy month of Ramazan, which began over the weekend, sees Muslims fast and refrain from eating or drinking between dawn and sunset.The free event was organised by London-based charity Ramazan Tent Project.

Simon Maples, visitor operations director at Windsor Castle, said the King had been “championing religious diversity and encouraging interfaith conversation” for many years.St George’s Hall is normally used to entertain heads of state and for special banquets.On Sunday the call to prayer echoed throughout the building to signal the time to break the fast. Dates were eaten and prayers said before the meal was served.