The King of England mourns the ‘heartbreaking’ losses in the Middle East. King has made an impassioned plea for religious tolerance and mutual respect, against the background of “international turmoil” in Israel and Gaza.

During a speech at Mansion House in the City of London, he lamented the “heartbreaking loss of life”.

Throughout his reign, the King has supported building bridges between faiths, referring to the UK as a “community of communities”.

During his speech, the King emphasized the importance of a sense of humour and an “invigorating dash of self-irony”.

According to the King, this was particularly relevant to his own case after experiencing frustratingly failing fountain pens this past year.

As he signed a visitor’s book in Belfast, he became frustrated over the lack of a working pen and was overheard saying, “Oh God I hate this.”

In his address to the City of London’s lord mayor and representatives, the King emphasized the need for “civility and tolerance” in our national discourse and political life.

A “rancour and acrimony” of social media, with its angry extremism, poses a risk of becoming a society of shouting and retribution.

Since the Hamas attack on Israel, the King has spoken to Jordanian King Abdullah II, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis about respect between different faiths and cultures.

People should be allowed to “think and speak freely” and disputes should be “passionate but not pugnacious” according to the King.

He said he planned to “rededicate my life to preserving the space for faith” after inviting a range of religious leaders to Buckingham Palace in his first act as King.