Ukrainian families who have been forced to leave their war-torn homeland have reportedly been receiving financial support and accommodation from the Royal family. It comes as thousands of people in Ukraine continue to flee their country due to the Russian invasion, with some being housed by families in the UK.
A number of royals have vowed to “do their bit” and have publicly supported charity appeals and made cash donations to help the humanitarian effort after becoming deeply moved by the plight of the Ukrainian people. However, they have wanted to do it without any publicity, the Daily Express reports.
They have been providing accommodation to a number of Ukrainian refugees and families, but have been doing so discreetly as a source told the outlet that there is a “firm wish” for no publicity with royals wanting to keep their contribution private.
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A Buckingham Palace spokesperson has confirmed to the Express that the Royal family are helping, but will not expand on the level of help they are providing. They said: “We are assisting in a number of ways but will not be commenting further.”
It is not know which royals are housing refugees, or where the accommodation is being provided - but the palace has been contacted for further information.
The Queen has made clear her support for Ukraine in more subtle ways too, often wearing the country’s flag colours of yellow and blue and ordering blue and yellow flower arrangements at Windsor Castle. “These things don’t tend to happen by accident," a senior royal source told the Express.
Almost 59,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in the UK under government schemes, including the Homes for Ukraine programme, amounting to just over half of the number of visas granted.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, it is thought that more than 14 million Ukrainians have fled their home, with a number of European countries taking in refugees varying from a few thousand to millions. In Poland there are now more than three million Ukrainians, while 700,000 have been accepted by Germany.
This is not the first time the Royal family have offered support to those fleeing wars, with the palace being used to house royal refugees of the Second World War. These royal refugees include Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and Norway's King Haakon and his son, Prince Olaf, who fled from the Nazis in 1940.
The Prince of Wales said last month that he hopes Britain is welcoming to the Ukrainian refugees following an "emotional" meeting with the families who have fled Vladimir Putin's invasion. Prince Charles made the comments on April 28 while visiting the World Jewish Relief (WRJ) charity in north London, which has sent food, money, and medicine to Ukraine.
