King Charles III and Queen Camilla have expressed their heartbreak over the devastating flash floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border, as the UK government pledged £5 million ($6.8 million) in aid and offered emergency assistance.
In a personally signed message shared on the royal family’s X account on Thursday, Charles highlighted the strong connections between Britain and the affected region, reports AFP.
“Many in the United Kingdom have strong, deep and personal ties to this part of the world,” the King wrote.
“We send our most profound sympathy to all those who have so tragically lost their loved ones and we feel deeply for the many families awaiting anxiously the news of friends and relations,” he wrote.
Charles also expressed sympathy for the families of police and armed forces personnel who died while responding to the disaster.
“Our hearts go out also to the families of all the police and armed forces personnel who lost their lives while carrying out their courageous duty in the service of others,” Charles said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain would support Nepal as the country responds to the disaster. His government pledged £5 million in aid and offered to deploy emergency responders.
“It’s a devastating picture that is emerging from what has happened in Nepal,” he told reporters, adding that the funding would assist relief and response efforts.
Nepal’s Tourism Board said 33 people from Britain were among 517 foreigners reported missing after the deadly disaster.
However, the UK government has not verified that figure. It said only that “a number” of British nationals were believed to be missing.
Britain and Nepal have longstanding historical ties, particularly through the army’s centuries-old Gurkhas brigade. The brigade recruits soldiers in Nepal and has earned a reputation for fierce fighting, loyalty and bravery.
The brigade’s association also expressed solidarity with those responding to the disaster in Nepal in a social media post on Thursday.
It paid tribute to “the work of our brothers and sisters in the Nepal Army and emergency services” involved in the response.
“As the scale of the tragedy in Nepal becomes apparent today, all of the Gurkha family stand united in support of the people affected,” the message added.
