The royals were warmly welcomed by the mayors of Brent and Harrow, Cllrs Ryan Hack and Anjana Patel.
Neasden Temple, a spiritual centre for thousands, has had a long-standing relationship with the royal family since King Charles’ first visit in 1996 – a year after it opened in August 1995 as Europe’s first traditional Hindu stone temple.
The Mayor of Brent, Councillor Ryan Hack, said: “We were deeply honoured to welcome Their Majesties to Neasden Temple.
“Their presence celebrates 30 years of dedication to faith and service and highlights the enduring friendship between our community and the Royal Family.
“I would also like to thank Cllr Anjana Patel, Mayor of Harrow, for joining me today, supporting the temple, and showing respect to Their Majesties.”
The temple celebrated its anniversary with a ceremony filled with music, prayer, and tributes.
The King and Queen attended the temple’s celebrations by observing prayers and spiritual offerings.
The King was embraced with the traditional nadachadi, a sacred thread tying ceremony symbolising bonds of peace and friendship, performed by head priest Sadhu Yogvivekdas Swami.
Following Hindu tradition, the King and Queen removed their shoes at the entrance and were adorned with floral garlands before touring the temple complex.
Young schoolboy Dev Patel performed a petals tribute ritual to the sacred image of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the temple’s principal deity, in the presence of the King, who expressed his gratitude to the congregation and wished them a “belated Happy Diwali”.
Sadhu Yogvivekdas praised the temple, saying: “This Mandir is the home of God.
“Over these last 30 years, it has become an integral part of the religious, cultural landscape of our great nation; admired not only for its partnership, but for what it embodies – a living centre of devotion, learning and service.”
He also praised King Charles’ “comfort, encouragement and genuine friendship” shown towards the temple over the years, including during his past visits as Prince of Wales.
Representatives of social impact initiatives supported by the temple, including the Felix Project and Women of the World (WoW), had a chance to meet the royal couple.
The King and Queen saw the 10-metre-high central dome, renowned for its intricate carvings, and explored the model of a new BAPS Mandir currently under construction in Paris.
The temple, a symbol of devotion and Indian craftsmanship, was built using classical Vedic architectural principles and without any structural steel.
Marble and limestone were hand-carved in India by skilled artisans before being shipped to London, where they were assembled with the help of thousands of volunteers and donors from across the UK and abroad.
Beyond its architecture, the temple is a centre of culture and learning, attracting school groups, dignitaries, and visitors from around the world to gain insights into Hindu values.
The temple’s charitable work includes the annual BAPS Charity Challenge, which raises funds for educational and community programmes such as surplus food redsitribution focused around the idea of sewa, or selfless service.
