Australia bushfires: Royal messages of condolence to those affected
Harry and Meghan appealed for donations by sharing links to fundraising pages for the Australian emergency services and Red Cross.
Sunday 5 January 2020 05:39, UK
The Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have expressed their shock and sadness over Australia's bushfire crisis in separate messages of condolence to those affected.
At least 20 people have died, more than 1,400 homes destroyed and over 20,000 square miles burnt by the raging fires around Australia - an area almost the size of Croatia.
In a message addressed to the governor general of Australia, governor of New South Wales, governor of Queensland, the governor of Victoria and to all Australians, the Queen said: "I have been deeply saddened to hear of the continued bushfires and their devastating impact across many parts of Australia.
"My thanks go out to the emergency services, and those who put their own lives in danger to help communities in need.
"Prince Philip and I send our thoughts and prayers to all Australians at this difficult time."
Harry and Meghan said in an Instagram post on their official SussexRoyal account that they were "struck by the increasingly overlapping presence" of environmental disasters around the world.
Their post read: "Our thoughts and prayers are with those across Australia who are continuing to face the devastating fires that have been raging for months.
"From areas we are personally connected to such as the communities and people we visited in New South Wales in 2018, to the fires in California and parts of Africa, we are struck by the increasingly overlapping presence of these environmental disasters, including of course the destruction of the Amazon which continues."
The couple appealed for donations by sharing links to fundraising pages for the New South Wales rural fire service and Red Cross.
Harry and Meghan warned that the global environmental crisis amounts to "ecocide", adding: "It's easy to feel helpless, but there's always a way to help."
Meanwhile, William and Kate said in a post on their KensingtonRoyal Instagram account: "We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have tragically lost their lives, and the brave firefighters who continue to risk their own lives to save the lives of others."
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