The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have described how their children have been affected by the Ukrainian refugee crisis during a visit to a relief centre.
Future Queen Kate appeared to be wrought with emotion as she and husband Prince William today went to the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Holland Park, West London, to meet volunteers sending two lorry loads of aid each day to their fellow countrymen fighting a Russian invasion and a humanitarian catastrophe.
William, 39, told them Britain and the rest of Europe were united behind them and spoke of the shock of seeing war on European soil.
The second in line to the throne said: “It’s very alien to see this in Europe. We are all behind you.”
But he added that he, like many, wanted to do more to help. “We feel so useless,” he said.
He and Kate, 40, wore Ukrainian yellow and blue solidarity badges and took trays of chocolate brownies and granola bars, homemade at Kensington Palace, for the volunteers.
They offered assistance from their charitable foundation for children and young people suffering mental health problems and trauma from the war and said their own children, or at least their older two, Prince George, eight, and Princess Charlotte, six, had been affected by the unfolding tragedy in Eastern Europe.
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“Ours have been coming home asking all about it,” William said. “They are obviously talking about it with their friends at school.”
He suggested he had found it difficult discussing some of it with his children, adding he had to “choose my words carefully to explain what is going on”.
They spoke with Saleh Saeed, chief executive of DEC, hearing about DEC's humanitarian appeal, which has so far raised more than £120 million.
They also heard how there had been specific requests for medicines for hospitals in Ukraine, as they were shown the large amount of pharmaceutical goods amassed in the centre.
At least two million people have already fled their homes to escape the conflict, with four million expected to be displaced as the Russian invasion continues.
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The visit comes after William and Kate were among the first royals to publicly speak out and pledge their solidarity with the people if Ukraine.
They issued a rare, personal message on social media saying they stood with the Ukrainian people.
They wrote: "In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelensky and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine's future.
"Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine's people as they bravely fight for that future."
Days later, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky took to Twitter to say he and his wife Olena Zelenska were grateful for their support.
He wrote: "Olena and I are grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that, at this crucial time, when Ukraine is courageously opposing Russia ’s invasion, they stand by our country and support our brave citizens. Good will triumph.”
Meanwhile, last week, Prince Charles praised the "extraordinary bravery and fortitude" of the people of Ukraine in the face of "truly terrible aggression" from President Vladimir Putin ’s regime.
The prince and wife Camilla visited the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Central London, with Charles handed a homemade poster from a schoolgirl that said 'Stop Putin'.
The Queen has yet to publicly speak out about the situation in Ukraine but during an audience with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle on Monday, she made a subtle tribute to the Ukrainian people.
On the table behind where the pair were pictured standing were some of the Queen's personal photos as well as a beautiful large bouquet of flowers that were blue and yellow - the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
And sources said that the small gesture was a deliberate sign of the Queen's solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
