London fire - Queen pays tribute to victims of Grenfell Tower blaze
The Queen has paid tribute to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire
Buckingham Palace released a statement this morning from the Queen and Prince Philip in which they also mentioned the “incredible generosity” of volunteers helping after the 24-storey tower on the Lancaster West Estate in North Kensington set alight on Wednesday morning.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry also revealed they will be making a donation today to the Evening Standard's emergency appeal.
A total of 12 people have been confirmed dead, but authorities say the number is set to rise as firefighters painstakingly search the 120-flats in which between 400 to 600 people lived.
The statement, said: “My thoughts and prayers are with those families who have lost loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire and the many people who are still critically ill in hospital.
“Prince Philip and I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of firefighters and other emergency services officers who put their own lives at risk to save others.
“It is also heartening to see the incredible generosity of community volunteers rallying to help those affected by this terrible event.”
Grenfell Tower is just four and a half miles away from the Queen’s official London residence, Buckingham Palace.
The estate is less than two miles away from Kensington Palace where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry live.
Paramedics took 68 people to hospital yesterday, while 10 more took themselves to hospital, with most suffering from smoke inhalation and burns.