Prince Charles has warned the lessons of the Second World War are in “increasing danger” of being forgotten.

Speaking at a fundraiser for World Jewish Relief, a humanitarian agency, the Prince of Wales remembered the “indescribable persecution” endured by Holocaust survivor and former Olympic weightlifting champion Ben Helfgott.

The Prince, who recently issued a veiled warning over the election of Donald Trump, said it was his grandmother’s sheltering of a Jewish family which inspired his work with a range of faiths.

“The work of World Jewish Relief enables us to rally together to do what we can to support people practically, emotionally and spiritually,” the royal, who was appointed patron of the charity in 2015, told a crowd of hundreds.

“Particularly at a time when the horrific lessons of the last war seem to be in increasing danger of being forgotten”.

The royal suggested Helfgott’s experience of persecution served as a reminder for not overlooking history, saying: “To meet Ben, and others who, like him, have endured indescribable persecution, is to be reminded of the danger of forgetting the lessons of the past.”

The Prince applauded the work the charity, which was established to support those fleeing Nazi Germany, did with impoverished Jews in Ukraine as well as those escaping the atrocities of Syria and Rwanda.

Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II on a walk-about in Portsmouth during her Silver Jubilee tour of Great Britain, 1977 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The future Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (R) pictured with her younger sister Princess Margaret (L) in 1933 AFP/Getty Images) Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The 9-year-old Elizabeth attends an aristocratic wedding with her mother and younger sister. 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“It is about supporting local communities with what they feel they need and not about imposing solutions from outside."

“World Jewish Relief shows us how vital it is to learn lessons from the horrors of the past,” he later added.

Rafi Cooper, the charity’s director of communications, told The Independent: “His Royal Highness provides a timely reminder that we need to reach within and beyond our own community, regardless of faith – a message that our Jewish values and history teach us is essential to avoid the horrors of the past being repeated.”

The Prince’s reference to “the horrific lessons of the last war” are reported to have been viewed by some in the room as a “thinly-veiled criticism” of Mr Trump. The President has prompted global condemnation for his immigration ban in recent days. Last week, the billionaire property developer signed an executive order suspending the entire US refugee admissions system for 120 days, halting the Syrian refugee programme indefinitely, and banning entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries.