The Grenfell Tower fire tragedy devastated a nation last year when 71 people lost their lives in the horrific blaze. Over seven months on the loss and grief felt by so many families and residents remains. The horrific fire shook the country to the core, with government representatives and members of the Royal family coming out to lend their support in any way they could. The tragedy touched Meghan too, and as exclusively reported by reporters Victoria Murphy and Matthew Young, she has made two private visits to comfort victims.
 |
| The Mirror |
Meghan made the private visits without Harry. Arriving at the at the Al Manaar community mosque, which lies in the shadow of the charred shell of Grenfell Tower, accompanied by a protection officer and a royal aide, the future duchess met victims and families. A leading Grenfell community member told the Mirror: "Meghan’s visits mean so much to us. She has a special place in our hearts."
Below, we see William and Harry at the mosque during an official visit last September. Following the fire, The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry established "Support4Grenfell", an emotional support hub in north Kensington, to provide additional mental health resources for the community affected by the Grenfell fire.
More from the Mirror's story:
'In an echo of Princess Diana’s charity work, she made the trips in secret. One resident said: “It means so much.” A royal source added: “Ms Markle has regularly been making private visits to organisations as she gets to know the charity sector.”
Diana often visited children’s and cancer charities and supported HIV and Aids sufferers around the world as well as the many victims of landmines. She even left Kensington Palace in the middle of the night to speak to homeless people nearby and visit them in shelters.'
Richard Palmer also confirmed the story tonight.
 |
| Richard Palmer Twitter Feed |
It's hard to believe that Grenfell is located just a short distance from Kensington Palace - Meghan's new home. The dreadful fire highlighted the social divisions in the area; despite it's proximity to Kensington and Chelsea, Grenfell Tower is located in not only one of the most deprived areas of London, but of the country. The sense of grief and loss are still incredibly raw as residents attempt to rebuild their lives.
I expect Meghan wanted to offer her support and meet those affected in a low-key setting without the media present. It's very encouraging to hear it's one of many visits she has undertaken to charities and organisations since the engagement announcement. Her visit clearly meant a lot to those she met - if members of the Royal family can provide a moment of comfort to those going through unimaginable difficulties, then it's a job very well done. Meghan's certainly off to a very impressive start.