Chef shares special memory with King Charles
Father-and-son chefs enjoyed a personal meeting with mother-and-son monarchs in encounters 32 years apart in Bermuda, courtesy of the royal visit last week by King Charles.
The King’s tour of Bermuda was more than chef and culinary teacher Shawn Ming could resist, given that his father, Fred Ming — who also lectured on the topic at Bermuda College — got to meet the late Queen Elizabeth during her 1994 visit, when she was photographed beaming at the senior Ming.
That scene, in Mr Ming’s training kitchen at the college, appears in his 2007 cookbook, Bermuda Traditions. His son decided to share the experience at the weekend with the King.
Shawn Ming told The Royal Gazette: “I decided to do it when I came to learn that the King was coming to the island. Obviously our parents have met — my dad and the Queen — so I was telling my wife, Lisa, I wanted to get a picture with the King to show that the sons have met. I thought it was fitting after our parents met over 30 years ago.”
Known for his sociable ways, King Charles did not disappoint in engaging with the public, despite a schedule packed with appearances.
Mr Ming tried to make it happen when the monarch called on City Hall to meet artists and traditional artisans on Friday.
King Charles III spoke with Chaim Birnhack, Rabbi of Bermuda, after the faith leader met the monarch and congratulated him for his example of solidarity with the Jewish people.
The royal visit came mere days after two Jewish bystanders were stabbed last week at a North London neighbourhood, in what the police are treating as a terrorist incident.
Mr Birnhack said: “As the Rabbi of Bermuda, following another horrific anti-Semitic terror attack, this time on the streets of Golders Green, I shared with His Majesty how deeply grateful so many in the Jewish community, and beyond, are for his clear and compassionate stand against anti-Semitism, and for his longstanding friendship towards the Jewish people.
“What he shared with me in response was deeply moving.
“He spoke warmly about his grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, who, while living in Nazi-occupied Athens during the Holocaust, risked her own life to hide and save Jews from the Nazis. She also quietly helped feed and care for those in need.
“His Majesty shared that she never made a big deal of it, and that the family did not speak about it much.
“Years later, Princess Alice was recognised by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations. She later asked to be buried in Jerusalem, and today she rests on Har Hazeitim, the Mount of Olives.
“In a world where hate can be loud, acts of courage, kindness and moral clarity echo even louder.”
Mr Birnhack added: “May we continue to build bridges of respect, faith and friendship, and may we always stand together for light, dignity and goodness.”
He said: “I went to City Hall and got to the front of the barricade. I thought I was strategically located, but it didn’t work out. Fortunately, the next day, it did.”
On Saturday, the day King Charles left Bermuda to head home, the sovereign attended Great Bay in St David’s to officially open the second Royal Bermuda Regiment Coastguard Station, at Great Bay. There was no special plan, Mr Ming added.
“I was just standing in front of the barricades like everybody else, hoping he would come and shake my hand — just one of the commoners.”
Fortune smiled as the King caught sight of Bermuda Traditions and approached Mr Ming. The two ended up in conversation.
Mr Ming said: “An interesting twist is that we both followed in our parents’ footsteps. Obviously, he continued on in the monarchy, and I’m a lecturer here at the Bermuda College.”
The cookbook scene is now Mr Ming’s kitchen at the college after his father’s retirement from lecturing.
“The King actually said, when I showed him the picture, that he wished he got to meet my dad,” Mr Ming said.
“I told him that he did. There’s also a picture of him appointing my dad a Member of the British Empire in 2001 when he was Prince Charles. He was quite pleased to find that out.”
Their exchange caught the eye of Kate Mansey, an assistant editor at The Times and the royals expert for the London-based daily. She interviewed Mr Ming about the conversation.
Mr Ming said he was happy he “fulfilled my goal”.
Another stroke of symmetry this year is that Fred Ming retired from the college after 29 years — three of them teaching alongside his son.
“After graduation, I will have completed my 29 years,” Shawn said. “I’ll have tied my dad’s record.”
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