The Princess of Wales visited the Ukrainian Community Centre in Reading in support of the Ukrainian First Lady’s mental health initiative for displaced families now living in the United Kingdom.
Catherine met with displaced families to learn more about how the centre is supporting their mental health and was a continuation of an earlier meeting the royal held with Olena Zelenska and her office to discuss a mental health initiative in support of her fellow countrymen who have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict.
During her visit, Catherine told those at the centre, “It is amazing to see the work being carried out, and lots of people are coming out to support the Ukrainians here.”
She took time to speak to families, including a woman named Galina, who recalled having to shelter from bombs with her three-year-old and her mother. The Princess of Wales told her, as she wept, “It’s understandable, everything you have experienced,” and said that “I wish we could do more.”
Catherine also joined in on an art class with children who use the time to connect with other children and express their emotions. One child made a special picture for the royal, which read, “Kate I Love You.”
According to Kensington Palace, Catherine virtually met with Zelenska’s team last week and “covered a range of topics including learnings from the UK on changing conversations and reducing stigma on a national level, and lessons from the delivery of support for specific groups such as children and veterans. The group also discussed the mental health support currently available for Ukrainians living in the UK.”
The meeting included leading mental health experts in the United Kingdom, representatives from Zelenska’s office and representatives from the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
After the visit, Kensington Palace confirmed that the Royal Foundation would continue to support Zelenska’s mental health initiative.
Kensington Palace shared on social media: “The inspirational work of the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre is non-stop, and it’s changing lives!
“Providing practical advice on employment and housing, delivering educational classes for children and building social connections, the centre is at the heart of the community.”
The palace added: “It’s also fantastic that The Royal Foundation has been able to help support First Lady @ZelenskaUA’s mental health strategy in recent weeks and will continue to do so moving forwards.”
Olena Zelenska retweeted Kensington Palace’s tweet and added: “Grateful to the Princess of Wales @KensingtonRoyal for a meeting with [the Ukrainian] community, attention, care, and to the entire royal family for sincere support of Ukrainians. For children’s smile and kind words. Big open hearts make miracles and heal souls. We are stronger together.”
Catherine and Olena have met on several occasions to discuss diplomatic matters, most recently while the First Lady was in the United Kingdom for Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral in September.
