Prince of Wales donates to Coptic martyrs’ families

The Prince of Wales has given an unspecified amount of money to the families of the 21 Coptic martyrs of Libya murdered by Islamic State terrorists last month.

Prince Charles’ donation came in response to an appeal launched by British Coptic Bishop Angaelos, called “When Left Behind” and aimed at assisting the children of the men, 20 of whom were Egyptian Christians. The other is believed to be a Ghanaian. The prince also wrote letters of condolence to Bishop Angaelos and Coptic Pope Tawadros II. Last year, the prince said that Christianity is being “quite literally, grotesquely and barbarously assaulted” and made a donation to the Aid to the Church in Need campaign to help Iraqi and Syrian Christians. In December 2013 he visited the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Stevenage, in Hertfordshire.

Bishop Angaelos launched the appeal at a memorial service in London in February, saying: “As we mourn with the families of those who died we also rejoice in the faithful conviction, strength, dignity and bravery of these men.”

Donations can be made by texting “COPT21 £[amount]” to 70070.