Prince Charles will grant Southend city status TODAY following death of MP Sir David Amess 

Charles condemns Putin’s ‘attack on democracy’: Prince of Wales says he stands ‘in solidarity’ with those ‘resisting brutal aggression’ in Ukraine as he grants Southend city status following death of Sir David Amess

Prince of Wales blasted the ‘appalling suffering and devastation’ caused by Vladimir Putin’s ‘path of violence’The future King of England was joined by wife Camilla, who will also join him on a visit to Southend’s pier An emotional Lady Julia Amess received the Freedom of the City honour on behalf of her late husband

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Prince Charles warned in a speech today that the values of democracy are ‘under attack’ in Ukraine in the ‘most unconscionable way’ – as he blasted Vladimir Putin’s ‘path of violence’ for causing ‘appalling suffering and devastation’.

The Prince of Wales made the comments as he officially made Southend-on-Sea a city on Tuesday following a years-long campaign by the late MP Sir David Amess – who was stabbed to death by a terrorist last year. 

During his speech, the future King of England said he ‘stands in solidarity’ with the citizens of Ukraine as he lauded Sir David for his dedication to the ‘values which underpin the society we share’.  

He said: ‘We can only hope that those who are too often cynically dismissive of those in public life will look at his example of service.

‘No one could have given more for the values which underpin the society we share, values which appear all the more precious, at this present time, when we see more starkly than for many years, the appalling suffering and devastation caused when the path of violence is chosen. 

Prince Charles speaks at an extraordinary council meeting in Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday – in which he made the town an official city and blasted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 

Prince Charles, with Camilla at his side, formally presents the legal document which entitles the change of status, the Letters Patent, to Southend’s mayor Margaret Borton at the extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday

Charles told the council meeting about Sir David: ‘No one could have given more for the values which underpin the society we share’ – while the late MP’s emotional widow looked on

An emotional Lady Julia Amess (pictured) received the free man of the city honour on behalf of her late husband

Lady Julia Amess (left) passes the Freedom of the City of Southend award, presented to her on behalf of her late husband MP Sir David Amess, by Southend’s mayor, Margaret Borton (left), to their daughter Kate Amess

Lady Julia Amess (centre) passes the freedom of the City of Southend presented to her on behalf of her late husband MP Sir David Amess, by Southend’s mayor, Margaret Borton (left), to their daughter Kate Amess 

The Prince of Wales (pictured during speech in Southend, with Camilla by his side) made the Ukraine comments as he officially made Southend-on-Sea a city on Tuesday following a years-long campaign by the late MP Sir David Amess – who was stabbed to death by a terrorist last year

The future King of England waves to crowds who had gathered for his arrival at Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday 

Camilla was all smiles as she clutched her Chanel handbag and shook hands with members of the public upon arriving to Southend on Tuesday 

Hundreds of locals gathered by barricades and waved Union Jacks as Charles and Camilla arrived to make Southend an official city 

A local dressed as Queen’s guard poses for a photo as Camilla approaches in the background in Southend on Tuesday

Sir David Amess (pictured), who had served as Conservative MP for Southend West since 1997, was murdered during a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall stand in the council chamber at the Civic Centre in Southend-on-Sea

Camilla looked chic in a navy pea coat, paired with a black hat, gloves, boots and a dark blue Chanel bag, while Charles donned a navy pinstriped suit paired with a patterned tie and grey shirt 

Council members and the family of Sir David Amess listen attentively to Charles’ speech as he makes Southend a city, fulfilling the late MP’s long-held dream 

From climate change and Crimea to the infamous Black Spider memos – A history of the ‘dissident’ Prince Charles’ interventions  

Prince Charles today branded Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a ‘brutal aggression’, blasting Vladimir Putin’s ‘path of violence’ for causing ‘appalling suffering and devastation’.

It was the most strongly-worded intervention from a royal on the invasion to date, in which the future King of England said he ‘stands with’ the people of Ukraine.

But it’s not the first time the Prince of Wales has spoken his mind about politics, having allegedly compared Putin to Hitler while often speaking out passionately about climate change over the years.   

Climate change intervention 

In August last year, Charles made his most powerful intervention to date in the fight against climate change, telling Britain’s business leaders they must help, or the planet is ‘done for’.

Drawing emotionally on his family connections to wildfire-racked Greece, the prince issued a robust challenge to big business to join his crusade for action ‘before it’s finally too late’.

The heir to the throne said humanity’s ‘only hope’ is for business chiefs to join world leaders in an ‘epic battle’ to avert ‘climate catastrophe’.

The prince urged leading companies to sign up to his ‘Terra Carta’, a charter that commits them to putting sustainability at the heart of all their business activities. 

Charles ‘compares Putin to Hitler’ 

In 2014, the Queen’s first-born son allegedly compared Putin to evil German dictator Adolf Hitler during an official visit to Canada.

He reportedly made the comments while speaking to a former Polish war refugee about Russia’s actions in Ukraine – which saw Crimea annexed.

The Russian president said that if the prince had made such comments they were ‘wrong’ and ‘not royal behaviour’. 

Clarence House did not comment at the time.

Qatari letters 

Years earlier, in 2009, Charles disagreed with architect Richard Rogers’s planned designs for the Chelsea Barracks site in west London. 

He decided to pen a letter to the Qatari royal family, who were financing the project, branding the plans ‘unsuitable’ and a ‘gigantic experiment with the very soul of our capital city.’ 

Rogers was removed from the project and replaced by The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment – leading Rogers to brand Charles’ intervention as ‘unconstitutional’ and an ‘abuse of power’, accusing the future King of subverting the ‘open and democratic planning process.’ 

Infamous Black Spider memos 

And there was outcry in 2015 when a series of letters sent by Charles to former Prime Minister Tony Blair and other government figures, dubbed the Black Spider memos, were finally published following a decade-long legal battle.

They showed how Charles contacted Tony Blair in 2004 over his concerns about a lack of resources for the Armed Forces in Iraq and particularly the ‘poor performance’ of the Lynx helicopter. 

He also sent a barrage of correspondence to Mr Blair over a seven-month period pushing for a cull of Britain’s badgers and describing opponents as ‘intellectually dishonest’.

In 2004, he complained over modern teaching methods and extolled the virtues of his Summer Schools when writing to Education Secretary Charles Clarke

The future king also asked Mr Blair to ‘bring pressure’ on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs over the bureaucratic burden on farmers.

In a letter to Mr Blair in February 2005, he also voiced support for ‘alternative’ medicines, describing a regulation to restrict practitioners as being like ‘using a sledgehammer to crack a nut’

He also penned a note to Environment Minister Elliot Morley in October 2004 in which he involved himself in the illegal fishing of the Patagonian toothfish.

During another 2005 missive, he even made an ironic comment about his reluctance to put issues in writing to Mr Blair because of the Freedom of Information Act – which was ultimately used to release the contents of the letters to the public. 

The ‘dissident’ prince 

In 2006, Mark Bolland, the former deputy private secretary and press adviser to the Prince of Wales, said the royal had referred to himself as a ‘dissident’ who worked against the prevailing political consensus.

Concerning Charles’s views, Mr Bolland said in a 10-page witness statement that he ‘routinely meddled in political issues and wrote sometimes in extreme terms to ministers, MPs and others in positions of political power and influence.’

The statement was prepared for court when Charles was attempting to seek summary judgment against the Mail on Sunday for breach of confidence and infringement of copyright after the paper published extracts from a journal he wrote following the British handover of Hong Kong in 1997. 

Mr Bolland added: ‘The prince used all the means of communication at his disposal, including meetings with ministers and others, speeches and correspondence with leaders in all walks of life and politicians. 

‘He was never party-political, but to argue that he was not political was difficult. These letters were not merely routine and non-controversial…but written at times in extreme terms…containing his views on political matters and individual politicians at home and abroad and on international issues.

‘I remember on many occasions seeing in these day files letters which, for example, denounced the elected leaders of other countries in extreme terms, and other such highly politically sensitive correspondence.’

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‘What we saw in the terrible tragedy in Southend was an attack on democracy, on an open society, on freedom itself. 

‘We are seeing those same values under attack today, in Ukraine, in the most unconscionable way.

‘In the stand we take here, we are in solidarity with all those who are resisting brutal aggression.’ 

He added: ‘In the aftermath of Sir David’s brutal murder, the people of Southend-on-Sea came together in a remarkable and inspiring way to bring good out of evil. 

‘In doing so, they demonstrated a deep truth: that what matters more than any name, whether of a person or a place, is the spirit. 

‘Today, Southend becomes a city. As we celebrate and honour that fact, we remember that it is always, and crucially, a community.’

Charles is the first working royal to condemn Putin’s actions, which have seen hundreds of civilians killed – and thousands of soldiers slain. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who gave up their royal duties last year, previously said they ‘stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law.’

At an awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday, Prince Harry added: ‘We would like to acknowledge the people of Ukraine, who urgently need our continued support as a global community.’

Charles formally presented the legal document which entitles the change of status, the Letters Patent, to Southend’s mayor Margaret Borton at the extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday. 

He presented the document on behalf of the Queen with his wife the Duchess of Cornwall by his side.

Sir David, who had served as Conservative MP for Southend West since 1997, was murdered during a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15.

The 69-year-old had campaigned tirelessly to make Southend a city.

Mayor Mrs Borton said Tuesday: ‘Formally receiving city status from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will be a special moment for Southend-on-Sea, and we are hugely honoured to receive a royal visit from Their Royal Highnesses on what is sure to be a momentous day for our new city.’

Hundreds of locals gathered behind metal barricades in the wet and windy weather to greet the royals. 

They were seen waving Union Jack flags and filming the future king and Queen Consort on their phones as they stopped to shake hands and chat. 

Camilla looked chic in a navy pea coat, paired with a black hat, gloves, boots and a dark blue Chanel bag, while Charles donned a navy pinstriped suit paired with a patterned tie and grey shirt. 

Lady Julia Amess was given the Freedom of The City honour on behalf of her late husband.

Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, a friend of Sir David’s, read a statement on behalf of Lady Julia and her family.

‘Despite a traumatic and tragic journey, we have arrived at the city of Southend-on-Sea,’ she said.

‘How thrilled our husband and father would be to know that Her Majesty the Queen has bestowed such a huge honour to the people of Southend-on-Sea in his name.

‘A dream come true, and he would now be wanting to get out there and make the very best of this huge opportunity for the city.

‘There would have been talk of nothing else in our home or indeed whenever he spoke in Parliament. How we wish that this could be.

‘Of course, David was very well aware that city status would not have been possible without the help and hard work of so many people.

‘The people of Southend-on-Sea came together and look what they achieved

‘We know they will continue to work together in friendship and with pride to promote their city.’

Ms Widdecombe said that, on behalf of Sir David, the family ‘wish to say thank you to the amazing people in the community who have achieved so much for Southend’.

The statement concluded: ‘We are, of course, filled with sadness that he’s no longer with us but his legacy is huge and we are so grateful to have had him in our lives and to know that he will never be forgotten.’

Charles and Camilla also visited the seafront to unveil a new eco-friendly pier train named after Sir David.

The battery-powered trains will be used to take visitors from the shoreline to the end of Southend Pier, which at 1.33 miles (2.14km) is the longest pleasure pier in the world.

The £3.25 million pier train replacement project is seeing the existing diesel trains, which have been in operation on the pier since 1986, replaced with new, eco-friendly trains, designed in heritage green and cream following a public vote.

Green and cream liveried pier trains previously ran on Southend Pier from 1949 to 1978. 

The Duchess of Cornwall capped her visit with the Prince of Wales by having a seaside staple – fish and chips.

Camilla’s lunch of cod and chips was accompanied with tartar sauce and a wally – the local word for a gherkin – when she stopped for a bite to eat.

Philip Miller, executive chairman of Stockvale, which owns and runs the restaurant and Southend’s fun park Adventure Island, said: ‘The visit was tremendous for Southend. The turnout was brilliant.

‘When she came in we offered her cod and chips and she had them in the boardroom. She thoroughly enjoyed them.’

Before arriving at the restaurant, the couple went on a long walkabout along the seafront and Charles was asked about the health of the Queen by Janice Jacom, 64, an admin worker at a local golf course.

She said: ‘I asked the prince about his mother and he said “she’s a lot better now – it was very mild”. 

‘It was a bit worrying as the Queen is getting on a bit but I think she’s absolutely wonderful.’

Southend was one of several towns competing for city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June next year, with Sir David having pushed for the recognition for at least two decades.  

Camilla ‘thoroughly enjoys’ fish and chips – served with a ‘wally’ – during Southend visit

Camilla capped her visit to Southend with the Prince of Wales by tucking into some fish and chips.

Camilla’s lunch of cod and chips was accompanied with tartar sauce and a wally – the local word for a gherkin – when she stopped for a bite to eat.

Philip Miller, executive chairman of Stockvale, which owns and runs the restaurant and Southend’s fun park Adventure Island, said: ‘The visit was tremendous for Southend. The turnout was brilliant.

‘When she came in we offered her cod and chips and she had them in the boardroom. She thoroughly enjoyed them.’

Before arriving at the restaurant, the couple went on a long walkabout along the seafront and Charles was asked about the health of the Queen by Janice Jacom, 64, an admin worker at a local golf course.

She said: ‘I asked the prince about his mother and he said “she’s a lot better now – it was very mild”.

‘It was a bit worrying as the Queen is getting on a bit but I think she’s absolutely wonderful.’

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With a population of around 183,000, Southend is a large coastal town and is home to the longest pleasure pier in the world, Southend Pier, measuring 1.33 miles. 

It also has London Southend Airport less than two miles north of the town centre.  

Cities historically were settlements with cathedrals, which is why small places such as Ely in Cambridgeshire and Salisbury remain cities.  

But having a cathedral is no longer an official requirement for a city-aspiring town. 

In recent years, towns have been able to apply to the Government for city status via competitions by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

At the last competition, held to honour the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee nine years ago, three towns were granted city status – Perth, Chelmsford and St Asaph. 

In 2002, Preston became a city, while Brighton and Wolverhampton were granted the upgrade to mark the turn of the millennium.

In the days after his death, the Prime Minister praised Sir David as a politician who ‘simply wanted to serve the people of Essex’ as a backbench Conservative. 

He vowed that the ‘contemptible act of violence’ that took his life would not ‘detract from his accomplishments as a politician or as a human being’.

Mr Johnson added that Sir David was a ‘seasoned campaigner of verve and grit’ who ‘never once witnessed any achievement by any resident of Southend that could not somehow be cited in his bid to secure city status for that distinguished town’.

‘As it is only a short time since Sir David last put that very case to me in this chamber, I am happy to announce that Her Majesty has agreed that Southend will be accorded the city status it so clearly deserves,’ the Prime Minister said, to cheers from MPs. 

Charles and Camilla are guided through the Civic Centre during their visit to Southend 

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, leave the Civic Centre during a visit to Southend-on-Sea

Charles and Camilla visit the Civic Centre during a visit to Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday 

Charles appears to point to the camera during a tour of the civic centre in Southend – before he made the town an official city 

Charles and Camilla arrive to greet members of the public during their visit to Southend, as hundreds of locals gather to look on

The Prince of Wales greets members of the public outside during his visit to Southend

A nurse records the moment Prince Charles stops to talk to locals during his visit to Southend on Tuesday 

A local records the moment he shakes hands with the future King of England during his visit to Southend

Camilla holds a bouquet of flowers she was handed while chatting to members of the public in Southend on Tuesday 

Camilla looked chic in a navy pea coat, paired with a black hat, gloves, boots and a dark blue Chanel bag, while Charles donned a navy pinstriped suit paired with a patterned tie and grey shirt.

Security stand outside The Sands fish and chips shop ahead of the arrival of Charles and Camilla to Southend

Union flags are handed out to the public of Southend ahead of the arrival of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Charles and Camilla are welcomed by Southend mayor Margaret Borton during their official visit Tuesday 

Charles and Camilla shake the hands of council members and Sir David Amess’s family in Southend on Tuesday

Charles and Camilla unveil a new eco-friendly Pier Train, named after murdered MP David Amess, during their visit to the Pier in Southend on Tuesday 

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall pose for pictures during a visit to the sea front at Southend-on-Sea, in Essex on Tuesday

Charles and Camilla take a walk along the shores of Southend during their royal visit 

Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe (pictured), a friend of Sir David’s, read a statement on behalf of Lady Julia and her family.

A new sign pictured Tuesday welcomes people to the City of Southend-on Sea, which is twinned with Sopot in Poland 

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the city status for the seaside town was a ‘fitting tribute to Sir David’s hard work’.

Nadine Dorries paid a touching tribute to Sir David in October when she revealed his last letter to her pleaded for help making Southend a city. 

In it he congratulated on her promotion to replace Oliver Dowden in Boris Johnson ‘s reshuffle, adding: ‘Let’s now make Southend a city!’

In a tweet, Ms Dorries wrote: ‘It’s taken me a while to get through the post in my Parliamentary office.

‘Just opened this letter from David, in his true style, asking me to make Southend a city.

‘It happened David, it happened.’

Workers install a new Welcome to the City of Southend-on-Sea road sign ahead of today’s Royal visit

With a population of around 183,000, Southend is a large coastal town and is home to the longest pleasure pier in the world, Southend Pier, measuring 1.33 miles. (Pictured: People enjoying the hot weather on Southend beach in summer of 2020)

A man skates along the promenade in Southend, Essex on October 18, 2021

Southend also has London Southend Airport less than two miles north of the town centre (pictured) 

Nadine Dorries paid a touching tribute to Sir David in October when she revealed his last letter to her (pictured) pleaded for help making Southend a city

Sir David was known for using every opportunity he could to lobby for Southend to be upgraded to city status.  

In March 2018, Theresa May, then Prime Minister, was being quizzed over Anglo-Russian relations following the recent Salisbury poisonings – but Sir David had other priorities.

During Prime Minister’s Questions, he asked Mrs May if she was aware that a charity for learning difficulties in his constituency had just broken the world record for dinging the most triangles – and whether or not she thought, as he did, that this was enough of a reason to make Southend-on-Sea a city.

At the Westminster Dog of Year contest last year, Sir David entered his French bulldog Vivienne. 

Asked why she should win, he said: ‘Because she is an enthusiastic supporter of Southend becoming a city.’

Prince Charles’ speech in which he condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine while granting Southend-on-Sea city status 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, my wife and I are immensely proud to join you (albeit later than originally intended, for which I can only apologise profusely), at this historic moment for Southend-on-Sea.

I recall with great fondness an occasion in January 2014, when my wife and I visited the Palace Theatre in Westcliff-on-Sea. We were most impressed as local school children from the area expertly performed scenes from Shakespeare plays to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the playwright’s birth. It was a very happy occasion, and we were enormously touched by the warmth of the reception from everyone we met.

During that visit we recall our conversation with Sir David Amess. I knew of him, of course, as a renowned and respected Parliamentarian and an effective campaigner on many national and local issues. Among them was his passionate determination to secure city status for Southend-on-Sea.

Today, we mark the culmination of that dedicated campaign – and yet, how we all wish we could celebrate the occasion without the shadow of the dreadful event which took the life of such a devoted public servant.

Sir David’s tragic and senseless murder in October 2021, and the appalling circumstances under which he died, shocked the nation. I am only too aware that today’s ceremony cannot possibly replace the agonising loss felt by Sir David’s widow, Lady Amess, and their five children, but I do hope it will offer at least some comfort in such unbearable sorrow.

I have no doubt that Sir David would have been immensely proud today. 

However, as was the case throughout his life, it would not have been pride in personal success, but would have stemmed from his deep understanding of duty and his unfailing ambition to serve his constituency and improve the lives of those he represented. 

We can only hope that those who are, too often, cynically dismissive of those in public life will look at his example of service. 

No-one could have given more for the values which underpin the society we share – values which appear all the more precious at this present time when we see, more starkly than for many years, the appalling suffering and devastation caused when the path of violence is chosen. 

What we saw in the terrible tragedy in Southend was an attack on democracy, on an open society, on freedom itself. We are seeing those same values under attack today in Ukraine in the most unconscionable way. In the stand we take here, we are in solidarity with all those who are resisting brutal aggression.

In the aftermath of Sir David’s brutal murder, the people of Southend-on-Sea came together in a remarkable and inspiring way to bring good out of evil. In doing so, they demonstrated a deep truth: that what matters more than any name, whether of a person or a place, is the spirit. Today, Southend becomes a city. As we celebrate and honour that fact, we remember that it is always, and crucially, a community.

By that measure, Ladies and Gentleman, Southend-on-Sea is a marvellous example to our nation. 

It epitomises the heartfelt words offered by Sir David’s family following his death about the need, and I quote – ‘to set aside their differences and show kindness and love to all’ There could be no greater legacy.

I pray that this new city of Southend-on-Sea will continue from strength to strength, honouring the memory and legacy of Sir David Amess – one of its greatest ambassadors – and inspired always by the example of his dedication to the community he loved.’

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Zelensky thanks Kate and William for ‘standing by Ukraine’s brave citizens at this crucial time’… but fails to mention Harry and Meghan despite their own statement on invasion 

By Dan Sales for MailOnline

Prince William and Kate were thanked this morning by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife after the royals said they stood with them in their fight.

The supportive message from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was sent on Saturday as Putin’s forces bombarded the country.

And this morning Mr Zelensky and his wife Olena said they were ‘grateful’ for the rare political comment from the Royals.

They added the support was boost as Ukraine continued to fight off Russia‘s invasion.

President Zelensky said: ‘Olena and I are grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that at this crucial time, when Ukraine is courageously opposing Russia’s invasion, they stand by our country and support our brave citizens.

‘Good will triumph.’

Harry and Meghan had also sent their own words of support to Ukraine, but was not mentioned by Mr Zelensky. It is not known whether he has privately thanked them. 

The Sussexes had posted on their website on February 24 ‘Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine’.

They restated that support on television as they accepted the President’s Award at the NAACP Image Awards.  

William and Kate’s remarks were posted on Saturday and were a rare foray into politics.

The message of gratitude to William and Kate was posted just after 8am this morning

The Duke and Duchess entertained President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena in the opulent Throne Room

The area today near the regional administration building, which city officials said was hit by a missile attack, in central Kharkiv, Ukraine

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, accept the President’s Award at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards Show, where they restated their support for Ukraine

Harry and Meghan also posted a message of support on their Archewell site on February 24

Their February 26 post on Twitter insisted they ‘stand’ with the people of the war-torn nation, as they ‘bravely fight’ for their future.

The royal couple also recalled the ‘privilege’ of meeting President Zelensky and his wife, when they jetted into London in 2020. 

In a personal tweet signed by the couple, they wrote: ‘In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine’s future.

‘Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine’s people as they bravely fight for that future.’

William and Kate welcomed the Ukrainians to Buckingham Palace in October 2020 – their first audience since the start of the first Covid lockdown.

The Duke and Duchess entertained President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena in the opulent Throne Room. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have said they ‘stand’ with the people of Ukraine as they ‘bravely fight’ for their future

William and Kate welcomed the Ukrainians to Buckingham Palace in October 2020 – their first audience since the start of the first Covid lockdown

The Tweet from William and Kate was sent on Saturday and was a rare political message

Ukraine war: The latest 

Russia promised on Monday that it would hit back against the EU following its support of Ukraine and warned the West against supplying weapons to the countryA second round of talks aimed at ending Russia’s attack on Ukraine is set to take place after the first meeting ended without resolution Ukraine’s MoD says Russia has lost 5,300 soldiers, 29 planes, 29 helicopters and 151 tanksRussia’s MoD has for the first time acknowledged suffering losses, but refused to say how manyUkraine reports 352 civilian deaths since the start of the invasion, including 14 children. The UN puts the civilian toll at 102, including seven children. Russian economy entered freefall as Western sanctions put in place over the weekend took effect, with ruble sliding to its lowest level everMoscow’s central bank has more-than doubled the interest rate to 20 per centRussia orders people and companies to sell 80 per cent of their revenue in foreign currencies, forcing them to buy the ruble to help prop it upMoscow stock exchange won’t open until at least 3pm in an attempt to head off all-out crashZelensky has allowed Ukrainian prisoners to be freed if they join defence forces to ‘repay their debt’ Ukraine president also announced creation of ‘international brigade’ for foreign volunteers wishing to join military, after ‘thousands’ applied Spain’s foreign minister called Putin’s order to put nuclear forces on high alert ‘one more sign of [his] absolute irrationality’Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his country should be open to hosting nuclear weaponsGermany announced a $112million fund to rebuild the country’s armed forces, more-than double its current self-defence budgetEU announced, for the first time in its history, that it will send funds to Ukraine for weapons – including fighter jets 
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The couples did not wear masks but observed social distancing and appeared in good spirits during the meeting, the first royal event to take place at Buckingham Palace in nearly six months.

William and Kate held the audience on behalf of the Queen, who stayed at Windsor Castle to carry out a limited number of engagements.

Ukraine’s president has accused Russia of war crimes after Vladimir Putin’s forces launched what were believed to be cluster and vacuum bomb attacks in an attempt to turn the tide of a conflict that they have so-far been losing.

In a late night address directed at Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky said there would ‘definitely be an international tribunal’ for what he said was a ‘violation of all conventions’ and added that ‘no one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people.’ Prosecutors at The Hague say they intend to open a probe ‘as soon as possible.’

Zelensky spoke after what appeared to be a cluster bomb attack on the city of Kharkiv on Monday which killed at least 11 people and wounded scores more, and after Ukraine’s ambassador to the US accused Putin’s forces of using a banned thermobaric bomb on the capital of Kyiv overnight.

The bombardment of Kharkiv continued Tuesday morning with a rocket landing just in front of the civilian public administration building, destroying the road outside and blowing the windows out of the building itself.

Footage from inside shows the building was heavily damaged, with ceilings collapsing and rubble strewn around.

It came as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – which met with heavy defeat in its initial plan to seize key targets and infrastructure in precision strikes – entered a new phase, with the aim seemingly to surround and besiege cities such as Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol, Sumy and Kherson which have so-far put up fierce resistance – and bomb them into submission using indiscriminate weapons in echoes of tactics Russia used against rebel forces in Syria while fighting alongside dictator Basahar al-Assad.

Fears that Kyiv will be hard-hit have been growing and reached new heights on Tuesday as satellite images revealed a column of Russian vehicles heading towards the capital is actually 40 miles long, as opposed to the 4 miles that were reported on Monday.

The most-advanced units in the column are now just 15 miles from the city, having been significantly slowed by Ukrainian resistance but never-the-less inching closer day by day.

The regional administration building, which city officials said was hit by a missile attack, in central Kharkiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian police officer escorts refugees, at the Medyka border crossing in Poland today

Russia’s plan appears to be using the heavy armour to encircle and shell the city, before troops move in for street-to-street fighting. 

A taste of what was to come struck Kharkiv on Monday when bombs rained down on the most Russia-friendly city in Ukraine – which sits 25 miles from the border and is home to 1.5million people – in a bid to break its will to resist.

The hail of bombs, shells and rockets which began falling at lunchtime left at least 11 dead, including three children, with homes and even a school reduced to rubble.

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