King Charles has spoken of his enduring "shock and sorrow" as he sent a deeply personal message to the victims and survivors of the Manchester synagogue terror attack. The King said the events of October 2 remain "especially vivid" in his mind as his message was read to a congregation of around 800 people gathered at Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall for a memorial service on Monday evening.

Although Charles was at Balmoral for his summer break, his words were delivered on behalf of both himself and Queen Camilla by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Eamonn O'Neal. "My wife and I hold all those whose lives were so tragically disrupted by that terrible day most closely in our thoughts and prayers," the King said.

"Though the months have passed, the sense of shock and sorrow remains undiminished. I shall never forget my visit to the synagogue shortly afterwards." The King recalled meeting those who had been present during the attack and hearing their accounts of what they had witnessed. "It was a deeply moving and heartbreaking experience," he said.

"To meet those who had been present that morning, and to hear their personal accounts of what they had experienced, was profoundly moving and troubling." The memorial service brought members of the Jewish community together to remember those who were killed and injured in the attack.