Kate, Princess of Wales arrived at the Ukrainian Community Center in Reading, on a visit to show her support for the people displaced by the devastating war of Russia against Ukraine. She smiled broadly as she was welcomed by representatives of the center.
Kate is chatting with families supported by the Berkshire center and hearing their stories, and will later be joined by children taking part in an art session.
The monthly art workshops enable the Ukrainian children to have fun, build friendships and express their emotions and experiences through a creative outlet.
The center is home to the Berkshire branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, the UK’s largest representative body for Ukrainians and people of Ukrainian descent.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine earlier this year, the community center has adapted its activities to support Ukrainians arriving in the UK and to provide medical equipment and humanitarian aid to those on the frontline.
During her visit, the Princess hears from volunteers how they have changed their services in recent months.
The work carried out for the Ukrainian community in Reading has included running educational classes for children and holding weekly coffee mornings in the center to provide practical advice and support around topics such as employment and housing.
The sessions also help to establish and solidify social connections and a sense of community, which have been proven to be an essential foundation for positive mental well-being.
This visit follows another visit Kate made with Prince William in March. Subsequently, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Ukrainian Cultural Center in London with their previous titles, seeking to “learn more about the extraordinary efforts being made to support Ukrainians in the UK and across Europe”.
On that previous visit, the pair met members of the Ukrainian community and helped sort donated items.
In September, the princess met with the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, who came to London as her country’s representative at Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral.
The meeting at Buckingham Palace was Kate’s first solo engagement as Princess of Wales.
More to follow…