Kensington Palace Christmas Ice Rink, hosted by King Charles’ cousin Peter Phillips, is canceled amid security fears due to ‘heightened tension’ during the Israel-Hamas conflict

Peter Phillips’ plans to install a festive ice rink next to Kensington Palace this Christmas have been scrapped due to safety concerns.

The tourist attraction, planned by the company co-founded by the late queen’s grandson, will now no longer go ahead in the wake of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.

The Perks Field site was initially earmarked for the ICE festive fair at Kensington Palace, from November 30 to January 7, but the area’s proximity to the Israeli embassy in London has raised concerns.

Tamarisk, the events company owned by Peter Phillips and Robert Derry, has promised to refund tickets already purchased and insisted the fair will return next year.

A joint statement from the co-founders said they made this decision in light of “heightened tension and uncertainty” in the area.

The statement, as reported by the Evening standardread: ‘In developing the plans for ICE at Kensington Palace, our primary concern has always been the safety and enjoyment of our visitors.

“In light of recent events and during a period of heightened tension and uncertainty in the area, we have made the decision to postpone this year’s planned event as the safety and security of the public remains our priority.”

Tamarisk, founded this year by the business partners, first revealed plans for the ice rink last month, claiming it was focused on sustainability.

The ice rink and festive fair were organized by the late Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips (pictured at Ascot with girlfriend Lindsay Wallace) and his business partner Rob Derry

The area has seen unrest in recent weeks with demonstrations organized outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington

Peter said at the time: ‘A key point of difference is where this event takes place and that is why we have had to commit to different sustainability goals and targets.

‘Sustainability is of paramount importance. Together with suppliers and our partners, we will look at CO2 reduction and our energy consumption.’

The ice rink would be 2,800 square meters in size and there would also be a VIP area available. The food and beverage outlets were planned sustainably.

With sustainability in mind, Peter had revealed that much of the event’s energy would be powered by biofuels, and Tamarisk Events sought advice from sustainability consultants during the planning.

Speak with Striking magazinethe business partners said the event was expected to be a “spectacular magical winter experience.”

However, recent events have caused the events company to change course in the wake of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, sparking unrest on the streets of London.

Days after Hamas launched a violent attack on Israel, killing more than a thousand people and taking hundreds of hostages, police arrested three people during a mass protest outside the Israeli embassy.

While one person was arrested for assaulting an emergency worker, another was taken into custody for racially motivated criminal damage and the third for possessing an offensive weapon, the Metropolitan Police said.

Palestinian and Israeli supporters clashed in a London tube station as police desperately tried to keep the peace on a night when thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the Israeli embassy.

Dozens of police were seen on video trying to separate protesters at High Street Kensington tube station in west London, while more than a thousand pro-Palestinian activists gathered on the street outside.

Fireworks were set off by protesters in Kensington High Street – some towards the boarded-up Israeli embassy – as those supporting Palestine told MailOnline there is ‘no way to change the Middle East peacefully’.