Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert (left) stands with her great-grandson Dov Forman after being appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire following an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, on 31 January, 2023. Photo: AFP / Pool / Andrew Matthews
King Charles has paid tribute to the "extraordinary resilience and courage" of Auschwitz survivor Lily Ebert, who has died at the age of 100.
Ebert, born in Hungary, was taken in 1944 as a 20-year-old to the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp, where her mother, younger sister, and brother were sent to the gas chambers. Along with three of her other siblings, she managed to survive.
They were freed in 1945 and reunited in Switzerland before eventually heading to Israel. She later settled in London in 1967, where in her later years she became well known as an author, her social media videos and media appearances documenting her life. She amassed two million followers on TikTok.
According to her great grandson, Dov Forman, she was fulfiling the promise she made to herself while in the camp that, if she survived, she would go on to tell her story "with strength, dignity and the determination to honour those who did not".
King Charles posted a tribute to Ebert on X, saying he was proud that she found a home in Britain.
Her recount of what she had witnessed was "a permanent reminder for our generation - and, indeed, for future generations - of the depths of depravity and evil to which humankind can fall, when reason, compassion and truth are abandoned," he said.
"Alongside other Holocaust survivors she became an integral part of the fabric of our nation; her extraordinary resilience and courage an example to us all, which will never be forgotten."
In a statement on X, Forman said the family's "beloved matriarch" and Safta (grandmother in Hebrew) had died at home surrounded by loved ones on 9 October.
"Over the years, Safta's story touched hundreds of millions worldwide, reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit and the dangers of unchecked hatred. She taught us the power of tolerance and faith, the importance of speaking out, and the need to stand against prejudice.
"As we mourn our beloved Mummy, Safta, we also celebrate her extraordinary life. A light that shone so brightly has gone dark. She was our hero, and her absence leaves an unimaginable void in our lives."
On her 100th birthday on 29 December last year, King Charles sent her a personal letter congratulating her.
Ebert received several honours in her lifetime, including the British Empire Medal in 2016 and the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary in 2022.
She was also appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2023 for services to Holocaust education.
She is survived by her daughter, son, 10 grandchildren, 38 grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
