King Charles III Receives Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at Balmoral

BALMORAL, SCOTLAND — Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met privately with King Charles III at Balmoral Castle on Sept. 21, 2026, during the Patriarch’s visit to Scotland.

The meeting took place at the British monarch’s private summer residence and was scheduled to last 30 minutes. According to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, however, the conversation continued for another half hour in what was described as a cordial and friendly atmosphere. King Charles personally accompanied the Patriarch to the castle’s exit following the meeting.

The encounter marked the second communication between Patr. Bartholomew and King Charles since the King’s accession to the throne. Their first meeting as Patriarch and monarch took place in October 2022. Before Charles became king, Patr. Bartholomew had also met him when he was Prince of Wales during earlier visits to London.

The Ecumenical Patriarch was accompanied at Balmoral by Bp. Raphael of Ilion, who serves as a deacon in Scotland, and Aetios, Director of the Special Patriarchal Office.

The private meeting comes amid the Patriarch’s continued engagement with religious and civic figures during his visits to the United Kingdom. The Ecumenical Patriarchate described the encounter as an important meeting and highlighted its extended duration and warm atmosphere.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Archbishop of Thyateira presented King Charles III with an icon at Westminster Abbey service.