Duchess Kate: Her joy amid the sadness
The Duchess of Cambridge’s unannounced visit to Clapham Common, to a memorial for Sarah Everard, was a touching moment in a dark time…
As the fallout from her brother-in-law Harry and his wife Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey continued to make headlines across the world, the Duchess of Cambridge made an unannounced visit to a flower-filled memorial in honour of Sarah Everard, who was killed as she walked home.
Filmed walking discreetly through Clapham Common, London, on Saturday 12 March, to join the mourners gathered there, Kate is thought to have laid daffodils picked from her own garden at Kensington Palace, to pay her personal respects to the 33-year-old, whose body was found three days previously in woodland in Ashford, Kent.
The Palace, in a statement, said Kate ‘remembers being a young woman and walking around London at night before she got married’.
Fans were touched by her personal tribute. ‘That’s so lovely she’s done that. Makes me quite emotional,’ commented one. ‘Good on her,’ said another.
Meanwhile, campaigner Lydia Waller, 22, from Harpenden, Hertfordshire – who is currently urging MPs to keep our street lights on at night – harnessed the power of social media so those unable to make it to Clapham Common could join in.
She encouraged people everywhere to join her doorstop vigil, ‘Light her way home’ – lighting candles in memory of Sarah, and in support of women who feel unsafe in the UK.
She told best, ‘Lighting a candle was something we could all do, showing we want to bring light to this very dark issue – and that we want our streets to be safe, for all women.’
Sarah, who lived in Brixton, disappeared on 3 March as she walked back from visiting a friend’s home in Clapham.
Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, appeared in court on the same day as the gathering Kate attended, where he was charged with Sarah’s kidnap and murder.
He appeared again at the Old Bailey on 16 March, where he was remanded in custody until a plea hearing on 9 July.
Sarah’s devastated family have paid tribute to a ‘ bright and beautiful’ woman. Her aunt Andrea said, ‘I hope Sarah’s death can bring about some positive change.’