Prince Harry is well known for his charming personality and it seems he’s won over another young fan today.
While visiting schoolchildren affected by the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in north Kensington, the 32-year-old was pictured posing for a photo with cheerful schoolgirl A’sha Morris.
The excited nine-year-old appeared over the moon after meeting the royal and pulled a cheeky face as she walked away.
Prince Harry is well known for his charming personality and it seems he’s won over another young fan today
While visiting schoolchildren affected by the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in north Kensington, the 32-year-old was pictured posing for a photo with a cheerful schoolgirl
The excited youngster appeared over the moon after meeting the royal and pulled a cheeky face as she walked away
The Prince and his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, met survivors of the high-rise blaze and community volunteers as they visited a new centre to provide those affected with psychological support.
Speaking after the happy moment, A’sha’s mother Honey Morris, 26, told MailOnline: ‘She was waiting to meet the Prince and was so excited when she finally saw him. He asked her what school she went to, how she was feeling and told her she had a very pretty bow.’
The HBSC worker added: ‘We live in the neighbouring block to Grenfell and we were evacuated for one night after the fire.
‘A’sha has had counselling sessions because she was very traumatised after the disaster. At first the sessions were run by the school and then the NHS but the council has not offered us anything.
‘They’re still ignoring our complaints about the unsafe fire doors in our building and when Theresa May visited she didn’t even acknowledge us or the children who were affected by the fire, which really upset me.’
Harry has previously admitted he struggled in the years after the shock death of his mother Diana, only seeking help more than a decade later.
Responding to pupils at two nearby schools who said they had been talking to each other about the fire, he said: ‘That’s all you can do, is be there for each other because there will be some people… who either don’t want to talk about their experiences… or think they are absolutely fine, and in years’ time suddenly they might have some nightmares and that’s when you guys will be crucial, because you have been through that process.’
To one pupil, who said they had felt a ‘very difficult atmosphere’ when they sat an exam after the fire, the prince joked: ‘Exam conditions are pretty rubbish anyway, I don’t think it’s changed in the last 20 years.’
The brothers were shown around the Support4Grenfell community hub, close to where the charred tower block stands in north Kensington.
Harry also met Andreia Gomes, her partner Marcio and their two young daughters, Luana, 12 and Megan, 10, who escaped from the 21st floor of the tower on June 14.
Ms Gomes, who was pregnant when the blaze ripped through the building, lost the baby boy she was carrying later that day in hospital.
The Prince and his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, met survivors of the high-rise blaze and community volunteers as they visited a new centre to provide those affected with psychological support
Responding to pupils at two nearby schools who said they had been talking to each other about the fire, he said: ‘That’s all you can do, is be there for each other because there will be some people… who either don’t want to talk about their experiences… or think they are absolutely fine’
The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry during a visit to the Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in London
The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry were sharing food with Grenfell survivors and locals earlier today
Asked if the family thought the centre would be useful for them, the couple said: ‘Yes, especially for the girls.’
Speaking after the visit, Mr Gomes said it had been an ‘honour’ to meet William and Harry.
He said: ‘The princes were amazing, really down to earth, really knew what they were talking about… they meant what they were saying.
‘An experience for my daughters, second to none, it’s something they will always remember, and I think it’s going to have a really positive impact on their lives, because obviously they’ve been through a tragedy, but they can take all these positives and continue growing.’
Asked why he felt the royal pair had been so sensitive, he said: ‘I think they understand the tragedy, they’ve been through it themselves as well, which I think is something that’s really close to them.
Prince William speaks to Omar Ali, whose brother Syrian refugee Mohammad al-Haj Ali died in the Grenfell Tower fire
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge talks to a child, during his visit to the Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Centre in London, as part of the Support4grenfell Hub Project
Prince William seemed excited to be chatting to the youngster who was wearing a green jumper
Mr Alhajali said: ‘He told me to to make sure that I take care of myself and take some time for myself, think about yourself as well. He gave me his condolences’
‘And I think they’ve seen so many families impacted by the Grenfell tragedy that they can sympathise and understand what people are going through as families.
‘They’re very busy so for them to share their time here with us is an honour.’
Meanwhile, the Duke listened to a teenage girl who was evacuated from her home near the tower as it burned and then sat a chemistry GCSE exam having slept only two hours.
Sixteen-year-old Hannah, who lost a ‘lovely, sweet, welcoming’ school friend in the blaze, said of William: ‘He was everything that everyone said, I didn’t really think much about it, I kept on talking.
‘I feel like he understood. Out of all the adults I’ve spoken to he grasped it better than I thought he would.’
The Duke and Harry then travelled the short distance to the Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in Westbourne Park, one of the organisations organising the first relief effort for Grenfell survivors.
It helped distribute donations of food, clothing and equipment to survivors in the immediate aftermath of the blaze, but is now focusing on healing the community’s emotional scars.
Harry met with the centre’s dedicated psychotherapist Nasima, who said she had been ‘humbled’ by the number of men who had sought help, while the Duke met with members of the Grenfell Women’s Group.
William also spoke with Syrian refugee Omar Alhajali, 25, who lived on the 14th floor of Grenfell Tower and lost his 23-year-old brother Mohammad in the blaze.
Mr Alhajali said: ‘He told me to to make sure that I take care of myself and take some time for myself, think about yourself as well. He gave me his condolences.’
To one pupil, who said they had felt a ‘very difficult atmosphere’ when they sat an exam after the fire, the prince joked: ‘Exam conditions are pretty rubbish anyway, I don’t think it’s changed in the last 20 years’
The brothers were shown around the Support4Grenfell community hub, close to where the charred tower block stands in north Kensington
The area, spread over two floors, is colourful and child-friendly, with beanbags, board games and more secluded areas for quiet chats
The princes were dressed in formal attire for the visit to the Grenfell community centre today
The centre’s imams have carried out funeral services for some of the victims, most recently laying to rest Mariem Elgwahry, 27, and her mother Eslah Elgwahry, 64, who were found on the 23rd floor of the building.
The brothers visited the centre’s prayer hall and met some of the spiritual leaders who have been helping the community.
Abdurahman Sayed, the Al-Manaar Centre’s chief executive, said the centre was now helping the community recover from the psychological effects of the disaster.
He said: ‘We now have a professional psychotherapist. She came first as a volunteer and then we saw the need for future services.
‘We had a part time agreement to provide services from her for at least another year and then maybe to extend it.’
The Centre was decorated with fairy lights and bunches of flowers in honour of the royals.
Prince Harry cuts a cake during a visit to the Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in London
Kate, who is suffering with severe morning sickness, as was the case with her previous pregnancies, was forced to pull out of public engagements on Monday and Tuesday
The Duke said he was sorry Catherine could not be present, to which a volunteer joked: ‘She’s got a good excuse’
Mr Sayed said: ‘We are very happy to receive them today. You can see we are almost celebrating.’
The pair were due to be joined by the Duchess of Cambridge, with William apologising to volunteers for her absence.
Kate, who is suffering with severe morning sickness, as was the case with her previous pregnancies, was forced to pull out of public engagements on Monday and Tuesday.
The Duke said he was sorry Catherine could not be present, to which a volunteer joked: ‘She’s got a good excuse.’
He said she would have been ‘thrilled’ to hear of the work community groups and charities have been doing, and to see the hub being used.