The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have revealed that their eldest children Prince George and Princess Charlotte have been asking them about the conflict in Ukraine. Prince William, 39, and Kate, 40, made the comments during a visit to the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in London today, where they met volunteers who were filling lorries with aid to support the humanitarian relief effort following the Russian invasion.
They wore Ukrainian yellow and blue solidarity badges and took trays of chocolate brownies and granola bars, homemade at Kensington Palace, for the volunteers working at the centre in nearby Holland Park.
Speaking with the volunteers, William said his eldest children, Prince George, aged eight, and six-year-old Princess Charlotte, have been ‘asking all about’ the unfolding tragedy.
William said: ‘Ours have been coming home asking all about it. 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’. Discussing the conflict further with Ukrainian volunteers, William said Britain and the rest of Europe were united behind them. He also spoke of the shock at seeing war on European soil, saying Britons were more used to seeing conflict in Africa and Asia.
‘It’s very alien to see this in Europe. We are all behind you,’ he said. He added that he, like many, wanted to do more to help, saying: ‘We feel so useless.’ 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.
Earlier this month, William and Kate were thanked by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife after the royals said they stood with them in their fight. The Cambridges’ February 26 post on Twitter insisted they ‘stand’ with the people of the war-torn nation, as they ‘bravely fight’ for their future.
After their statement was posted to Twitter, Mr Zelensky and his wife Olena said they were ‘grateful’ for the rare political comment from the royal couple. They added the support was a boost as Ukraine continued to fight off Russia’s invasion.
President Zelensky said: ‘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.’
