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Kate Middleton and Prince William Visit Hayes Muslim Centre to Thank Syria and Turkey Earthquake Fundraisers

kate william muslim centre

Photo: Getty

The Prince and Princess of Wales today paid a visit to Hayes Muslim Centre to thank those involved in the aid effort and those who have fundraised to help communities affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

Prince William and Kate met representatives from the community who, through bucket collections and other donations after prayers, have raised over £25,000 for the appeal launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), including over £17,000 raised on the first day.

kate william muslim centre

Photo: Getty

The appeal is helping to provide life-saving aid to people in the hardest-hit areas, including medical treatment, shelter, food and clean water. The appeal has now reached over £100 million thanks to the generosity of the UK public. In the early hours of Monday 6 February, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southern Turkey and north-west Syria killing more than 50,000 people and causing colossal damage to housing, infrastructure, schools and hospitals.

During the visit, the Prince and Princess of Wales also met representatives from DEC member charities, including aid workers who have recently returned from the crisis zone in Turkey. Representatives from Save The Children, Islamic Relief, Action Against Hunger, Age International and the British Red Cross spoke to the royals about the latest situation on the ground and the impact incoming aid is having on communities across the region.

kate william muslim centre

Photo: Getty

William and Kate, who will next week join King Charles III in the biggest royal event of the year so far, also shone a light on other organisations, including the Turkish Women’s Association, an organisation, based in Richmond, who partnered with a local community and a number of Richmond schools to raise more than £10,000 for the appeal with an event at St Stephen’s Church Primary School at the end of February. Stalls included Turkish coffee, homemade bakes and origami crane making run by pupils from Waldebridge School, which Kensington Palace described as ‘a symbol of hope and healing during challenging times’.

It comes after the Princess of Wales took part in a military engagement with the Irish Guards on the Salisbury Plain Training Area. Kate donned a camouflage kit as she joined the servicemen and women for the first time since becoming Colonel of the Irish Guards in December 2022, an honorary position previously held by her husband, Prince William.

Originally published in Tatler.com

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