Central London glows ahead of Ramadan as Mayor Sadiq Khan switches on the city’s Ramadan Lights, shining across the streets for the 4th year in a row.
Last year, the Ramadan event was organized by the Aziz Foundation, the lights were activated by the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan. King Charles III and Queen Camilla also participated in the observance of the forthcoming Muslim holy month by assisting in the packing of food donation boxes at a restaurant in Soho.
The King and Queen interacted with a group of Muslim women, including professional rugby player Zainab Alema and author Hajera Memon, at Darjeeling Express, a restaurant located in Kingly Court in Soho on Wednesday.
The Queen also welcomed a mother and her two daughters who were receiving support from Doorstep, a charity that aids families by providing goods and services to enhance their comfort while they awaited permanent housing.
She further assisted the all-female kitchen team in packing biryani boxes for donation to Doorstep, before joining King Charles in packing dates into small bags intended for hospitals during Ramadan.
The King then proceeded to meet chef Imad Alarnab at his restaurant, Imad’s Syrian Kitchen. Mr. Alarnab, a Syrian chef, entrepreneur, and refugee who previously operated restaurants in Damascus before they were devastated by the war, arrived in London in 2015.
He launched the restaurant in early 2020, and alongside the King, he welcomed British Syrians, including filmmakers, doctors, and charity workers.
Ramadan 2026
Ramadan is scheduled to commence on February 17 and will continue until March 18. British Muslims will engage in a 30-day period of fasting from food and drink including water during daylight hours, as a way to celebrate and contemplate their faith.
The exact commencement of Ramadan depends upon the observation of the new crescent moon.
However, most Islamic organizations, charities, and lunar calendars in the UK are synchronized with this mid-February timeframe.
Moon-sighting committees are anticipated to monitor the skies on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, which signifies the 29th day of Sha’ban.
Should the crescent moon be observed that evening, Ramadan will officially commence after sunset, and Muslims will observe their first fast the subsequent day.
