Prince Harry visit offers ‘a boost and recognition’ for Grenfell volunteers
He visited a Royal Mail site where volunteers have been sorting through donations for the relief effort.
Prince Harry buoyed the spirits of volunteers helping with the Grenfell Tower relief effort with a visit to the sorting hub for mountains of donations.
Harry was seen smiling and chatting to British Red Cross workers who have taken over a Royal Mail site in Greenford, north-west London.
During a 50-minute private visit on Thursday, Harry also talked to the Royal Mail staff who have facilitated the operation with the charity.
According to the British Red Cross, volunteers have so far sifted through around 62 tonnes of donations, with 10 tonnes having gone back to those affected in the west London neighbourhood.
They include clothes, bedding and toiletries, it said.
Hundreds were left destitute when a fire ripped through the 24-storey building on June 14, killing at least 80 people.
Adele Hampton, 51, has been volunteering between shifts as an auxiliary nurse, travelling from her home in Kent to help.
She said after meeting Harry: “His visit is a boost and recognition – not that we want recognition, we don’t, but for someone in such a position to care enough to take time out to come and see us means a lot.
“I wouldn’t say it makes it worthwhile, what makes it worthwhile is making sure the victims get support. But when someone like Prince Harry comes down here, it’s lovely and genuine. He wanted to talk to everybody.”
The charity said on its website excess donations were being sold in its high-street shops, with the money raised going to its London Fire Relief Fund, which so far has raised more than £3.2 million.
It reported that some 850 volunteers had contributed 5,100 hours of their time sorting donations since the end of June.
A Kensington Palace spokeswoman said on Thursday: “Prince Harry wanted to visit the volunteers who have given many hours of their time to help sort through the huge number of donations made to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
“His Royal Highness was moved to hear how generous the public and businesses have been in donating all kinds of items to those affected; he thanked the teams from the British Red Cross and the Royal Mail who have worked tirelessly to sort through the donations.”
