King Charles has a long-standing interest in architecture and design, and for decades he has led a campaign to defend traditional architecture in Britain, which he believes strengthens human bonds. In a related vein, King Charles has been concerned with environmental conservation, which was evident yesterday when he visited Cambridge Central Mosque, built with Turkish support, a step that affirms his commitment to a vision he has advocated for 40 years regarding eco-friendly architecture and sustainable urban planning. The mosque is considered Europe's first eco-friendly mosque, focusing on sustainability and clean energy. According to the BBC, some of the site's eco-friendly aspects include high-efficiency heat pumps, solar panels, and collection of surplus water from bathroom sinks and rainwater. The building is also lit throughout the year thanks to large skylights.

King Charles shook hands with a young man in the prayer hall during his visit to Cambridge Central Mosque (Reuters)

During his visit, King Charles expressed admiration for the mosque's design, praising 'the great care and attention that went into it.' The king learned about the mosque's environmental features during a tour and spoke with dignitaries in a paved garden with a fountain in the middle, before entering the mosque where he addressed more worshippers. He joked with some schoolchildren, saying he hoped he 'hadn't ruined their holiday too much by bringing them here.'

After returning to the first hall, King Charles unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the 75th anniversary of Cambridge being granted city status by a decision of King George VI.

King Charles unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the 75th anniversary of Cambridge being granted city status by King George VI (AFP)

After Charles unveiled the plaque, he said it was a pleasure to visit the mosque. Addressing the audience, he said: 'I am extremely impressed to see a purpose-built mosque with an attached community centre. I am sure it makes a great contribution not only to the Muslim community but to the whole city of Cambridge. So I congratulate you and sincerely hope that you continue every possible success, and continue to work with followers of other faiths in this area, to be a wonderful example of religious integration.'

Zainab Coskun, one of the mosque's trustees, told Cambridge News: 'It is a great honor to host the king here today. He was very kind, spoke to everyone, and tried to understand each person's role.' She added: 'He showed particular interest in the gardens and the mosque's environmental features.'

King Charles showed particular interest in the gardens and the mosque's environmental features (Reuters)

As part of the visit, organized in support of religious diversity in the United Kingdom, King Charles toured various sections of the mosque. Mosque officials presented him with a gift: a glass paperweight from 'Bashabachi' inspired by the dome architecture of the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey, a limited edition of Fuat Sezgin's book 'The Scientific Heritage of Islamic Civilization', a book describing the construction process and architectural approach, and 23 awards won by Cambridge Central Mosque.

The mosque currently hosts an exhibition titled 'Science and Technology in Islam,' featuring important works and studies on the contributions of Islamic civilization to science and technology.

The king's visit to the mosque carries symbolic significance at a time when Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims are increasing.