Queen Elizabeth And Royal Family Secretly Open Their Doors To Ukrainian Refugees

Queen Elizabeth and several members of the Royal Family reportedly extended efforts to help Ukrainian refugees by offering shelter to those escaping the Russian invasion.

An estimated 54,000 refugees have arrived in the past three months under the government's scheme, and the British Royal Family members joined politicians, business leaders and other volunteers in offering accommodation to the six million who fled Ukraine due to the war.

According to palace sources, aside from making cash donations, some members have insisted to "do their bit," helping those in need following the tragic events caused by Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The royals are understood to be working privately and want to keep their contribution secret. A palace spokesman said, "We are assisting in a number of ways but will not be commenting further."

The Queen has made her support for Ukraine visible by wearing Ukraine's yellow and blue, also ordering flower arrangements in the same colors at Windsor Castle. "These things don't tend to happen by accident," a senior royal source said.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also offered public support, the couple paid tribute to the bravery of the Ukraine team during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in April, with Meghan exclaiming, "Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine!)." Harry hoped the games would create the opportunity for the world to "better show up" for Ukraine.

Kate Middleton also recently showed her support for the Ukrainians as she appeared to fight back tears when visiting the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in London, alongside her husband Prince William, who said, "We are all behind you." The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge brought homemade chocolate brownies and granola bars from Kensington Palace to share with the members of the Ukrainian community and volunteers they met. The couple also offered to use their Royal Foundation to support Ukrainians suffering mental health problems after witnessing the war.

The Prince of Wales, Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, also met Ukrainian refugees in Ottawa, Camilla expressed their deep concern to one family who had left the father behind to fight, "We are so behind you. We do worry about you so much."

More than 150,000 Britons have reportedly offered shelter in their properties to Ukrainian refugees under the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme. Lord Harrington, who was assigned to lead the program in March, told an audience in Westminster on Thursday, "My vision is for this system to be a permanent part of Government, so that when refugee crises happen – and unfortunately they do all the time – we have a machinery." The minister in charge of Homes for Ukraine hoped for the scheme to become a model for housing future refugees.