QUEEN AND WILLS BRING HOPE WITH VISIT
THE Queen brought hope for the survivors of the fire as she visited a rescue centre near the disaster scene yesterday.
With Prince William at her side, she was cheered after spending nearly an hour with families whose lives have been shattered by the tragedy.
She appeared close to tears after listening to harrowing accounts of the horror.
William described the inferno as “one of the most terrible things I have ever seen”.
He pledged that victims and their families will not be forgotten, telling crowds: “I’ll come back.”
One volunteer said of the Queen’s surprise appearance: “It gives us hope that things will be properly dealt with.”
Praised
The Queen and her grandson arrived at 11am at the Westway Sports Centre and stopped to speak to residents gathered outside. The pair also met volunteers who have coordinated the relief effort.
The Queen heard how the community had rallied in the wake of the fire and praised those who had come together, adding their response had “come over very strongly”.
Harrowing cries could be heard inside the main hall, where families have been gathering, as a group consoled one another. Just a short distance away, the Queen and William met volunteers from the Red Cross. William said to one volunteer, who spoke about the fire: “Things like that you never want to see.”
Crowds also applauded members of the fire brigade, police and ambulance service as they lined up to be thanked for their bravery by the royal visitors.
Volunteer Vassiliki StavrouLoraine, 65, told the Queen of the horrific scenes she witnessed.
She said: “I told her it was terrifying when you heard the children screaming. They were shouting ‘Help, help, help’ and there was nothing we could do. But it was when it went quiet, when you stopped hearing their voices, that was the most terrifying point.
“She said it must have been terrible when the lights went out on the staircase so people could no longer see as they were trying to escape. She really understood the agony of the people. She was shaking her head in disbelief.”
Mrs Stavrou-Loraine said of the Queen: “I think she’s a wonderful person, to take such a personal interest in people’s lives.”
Taksima Ferdous, 31, said: “The Queen encouraged us to continue with the work we are doing. I was overwhelmed just to speak to her, my heart was racing.”
Rhianna Levi, 17, said: “She showed so much compassion. She has taken the time to come down here and see for herself. That alone shows she cares.”
PRINCE Andrew is the first royal to comment on Brexit since the referendum on membership of the EU, nearly a year ago. He has urged businesses to take a “glass half full” approach and make the most of the opportunities that will arise despite the inevitable difficulties.
He has urged firms to look beyond the European Union to the many other countries with which we can do business including 51 Commonwealth nations as well as China and the US.
This is a welcome intervention at a time when Remainers are milking the uncertainties surrounding the Brexit talks following the general election. Hard or soft Brexit is beside the point if we take the trouble to remember that there is a whole world of trading possibilities which Britain can make the most of once we have left the EU.
Optimism is a valuable commodity. We can certainly do with some of that right now.