Royal Albert Hall Issues Apology After Couple Barred Over Palestine Lapel Pin
The Royal Albert Hall has apologised to an elderly couple after they were briefly denied entry to a concert because the husband wore a Palestinian lapel pin.
The incident, which unfolded last Friday evening, left Roger Cauthery, 81, and his wife Angele distressed and embarrassed. They were stopped at the door by security, told they could not enter, and left waiting in the foyer for 15 minutes until a supervisor overturned the decision.
Cauthery later described the ordeal as deeply humiliating. “We felt extremely upset, not to say humiliated, by their behaviour towards us. I’m a middle-class ex-public school boy brought up to believe that Brits are decent and law abiding and that one can live one’s life freely.
I was merely showing solidarity with the Palestinian people and expressing my support for what I believe, and the UN believes, is a legitimate state.
My wife and I feel strongly that Palestine should be recognised as a state and indeed it seems that our government is finally about to do so.
I have lived in London all my adult life and am very proud of the diversity of my city. It is tragic that this small pin badge should be seen as a threat to the Royal Albert Hall which surely should be one of the symbols of our democracy.
The result of this incident was that we were too distressed to enjoy the concert and left at the interval.”
Following media inquiries, Royal Albert Hall CEO James Ainscough issued a personal apology, describing the security team’s actions as a mistake.
He stressed that such treatment “isn’t in line with our policy,” confirming the couple have been offered a full refund and invited back as guests for a future performance.
“As well as writing to apologise for an experience that was understandably upsetting and humiliating, we have offered a full refund and an invitation to return to the hall as our guests, so we can give the couple the warm welcome that was sadly lacking on Friday.
We have also spoken to our contractor to ensure that a similar situation doesn’t arise again.”
In a gesture of solidarity, Cauthery plans to donate the refunded ticket cost to Medical Aid for Palestinians — a move Ainscough called “laudable.”
The CEO also sent a heartfelt letter, adding: “Music has an enduring power to bring people together, and we want the hall to offer a warm welcome to all who come to enjoy our concerts. It is very sad to think that your experience with us on Friday was the very opposite of that.
I do hope you will consider returning to the hall in the near future so we have an opportunity to give you the warm welcome you should expect.”
The Royal Albert Hall — an iconic London venue and a celebrated symbol of British cultural life — is now reviewing procedures with its security contractors to prevent similar incidents.
