When King Charles III recently visited Golders Green, hundreds of members of the local Jewish community lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the monarch. The visit sparked widespread discussion: why does Yiddishkeit place such importance on kings and royalty, and what is the Torah perspective on monarchy in the modern world?

In this special episode, Dayan Hool explores the halachic and hashkafic questions raised by the King's visit. Can one make a brachah upon seeing King Charles? Should a person make a special effort to see a king? What is the concept of כבוד מלכות? Can one shake the King's hand? And why is Hashem so often described throughout our tefillos as a King?

Drawing on sources from Chazal, Halachah and Jewish history, this fascinating discussion sheds light on a topic that captured the attention of so many in the community and reveals what earthly kingship can teach us about מלכות שמים.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: King Charles visits Golders Green  

01:09 – Why frum Jews are excited to see a king 

03:17 – The brocha on seeing Jewish and non‑Jewish monarchs  

06:03 – Does the brocha apply to King Charles III and presidents? 

09:50 – Can a monarchy be abolished? Acceptance by the people  

16:14 – Seeing the king from afar: entourage, cars, and the brocha  

22:31 – How often can you say the brocha on a king? 

23:33 – Must you go out to see a king? Bitul Torah and mitzvah 

29:30 – Kavod malchus: honoring even non‑Jewish and wicked kings  

36:13 – Shaking hands with royalty: halacha and real‑world strategies  

43:28 – Praying for the welfare of the kingdom in golus

50:29 – Queen Wilhelmina and the Munkatcher Rebbe

54:23 – Dutch royalty, Rav Katz, and modern royal brachos

1:00:00 – Why we call Hashem “Melech”: kindness and authority 

1:04:06 – Dina de’malchusa dina and UK land law

1:05:20 – Closing: Malchus shel chesed and Malchus Shamayim