King Charles III said the mosque made a "huge contribution" to Cambridge and the wider Muslim community

King Charles said he was impressed by the design of Europe's first eco mosque and has praised "all the care and attention which has been lavished on it".

The King was told about the environmental credentials of Cambridge Central Mosque as he toured the place of worship on Monday.

He was greeted by crowds of well-wishers in Mill Road, before speaking to dignitaries and worshippers inside the building.

Some of the eco-friendly schemes at the site include efficient heat pumps, solar panels and the collection of spare water from bathroom sinks and rainfall.

The building is also lit all year round by large skylights in the roof.

The King, who took his shoes off before walking through to a prayer hall, was presented with a book about the 1,000-capacity mosque.

The King shared particular enthusiasm for the mosque's gardens

He also joked with schoolchildren that he hoped he had not "ruined the holidays too much by dragging you in here".

The King unveiled a plaque marking the 75th anniversary of Cambridge being granted city status by his grandfather King George VI, before calling the visit a "pleasure".

Addressing those in the room, he said: "I'm so impressed by the quality of the design, of all the care and attention which has been lavished on it.

"It makes a huge contribution I'm sure not only to the Muslim community, but to Cambridge itself.

"So I congratulate you and I pray with all my heart that you continue with every possible success and that you continue your work together with other faiths in this area to set a remarkable example of integrated faith activity."

Mosque trustee Zeynep Coskun said the King was "very kind"

Zeynep Coskun, a trustee at the mosque, said it was "such an honour" to welcome the King.

"He was very kind, he talked to everyone, he tried to understand everyone's role," she added.

King Charles III opened the new Whittle Laboratory on Monday

In a separate visit later in the day, the King opened the University of Cambridge's new ยฃ58m Whittle Laboratory.

The site is a dedicated centre for disruptive innovation in net zero aviation and energy.

The monarch had broken ground on the project in 2023 and also previously visited in 2020 and in 2022.

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