The Duke of Cambridge has pledged to return to the Grenfell Tower community as he joined the Queen at a rest centre helping those affected by the devastating fire earlier today.
William said the tragedy was “one of the most terrible things I have ever seen” during the visit to the Westway Sports Centre, which is near to the high-rise building in west London.
The Queen was told how the community had rallied in the wake of the blaze and praised those who had come together, adding their response had “come over very strongly”.
The arrival of the monarch and second in line to the thrown came as Metropolitan Police commander Stuart Cundy confirmed the death toll had risen to 30 today.
“I’m able to say at this point in time at least 30 people have died as a result of this fire,” he said.
Mr Cundy said the victims included one person who had died in hospital.
“There is nothing to suggest at this time that the fire was started deliberately,” he added.
Members of the emergency services, local residents affected by the fire and volunteers were among those who spoke with the royal visitors at the rest centre.
Harrowing cries could be heard inside the main hall where evacuated families and locals have been gathering, as a group consoled one another.
Just a short distance away, the Queen and William met volunteers from the Red Cross.
As they left, a man holding a poster of two siblings who have been missing since the fire called out for the Duke to go over.
William responded he had to leave, but shouted in reply: “I’ll come back, I’ll come back.”
The royal visitors were greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Ken Olisa, with the shell of the tower block visible in the distance behind them.
The Queen, dressed in bright blue, paused to speak to local residents who had gathered outside.
William discussed the tragedy with one of the volunteers, saying: “That’s one of the most terrible things I have ever seen.”
A strong campaigner on mental health, the Duke said it was important that those affected talked about the trauma they had witnessed and urged volunteers to get the right support.
Loubna Aghzafi, a local resident, told him many people she had spoken to were unable to share their experiences.
He replied: “They may want to eventually. They must talk about it.”
Ms Aghzafi, 42, who has been helping translate for Moroccan families caught up in the fire, told the Press Association: “I said to him ‘I was thinking about you yesterday when a woman told me her children are very traumatised’.
“I said ‘I need to get them some support’.
“He gave me the name of a contact of one of the charities so I need to contact them and get them to come down.
“He said ‘Please make sure to tell people that they need to talk about it’.”
The Queen and William signed a book of condolence in front of a wall plastered with missing posters describing those feared lost in the fire.
Outside, crowds applauded members of the London Fire Brigade, Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service as they lined up to be thanked for their bravery by the royal visitors.
On Thursday the Queen paid tribute to the “bravery” of firefighters who battled the blaze and praised the “incredible generosity” of volunteers offering their support.
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