The Queen makes 'generous' private donation to Ukraine fund as Royal family shows its support
Contribution by Her Majesty, 95, will be seen as a significant boost for charity appeal
The Queen has made a “generous” private donation to help the people of Ukraine, as part of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) humanitarian fund.
The palace did not announce the donation and declined to say how much it was, but the charity has publicly thanked the Queen for her generosity in "continuing to support" its work.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also made a private donation, The Telegraph understands.
The financial support of the Queen and her family will be seen as a significant boost for the charity appeal, bringing it to wider public attention and encouraging others to follow in their footsteps if they can afford to do so.
The organisation, made up of 15 charities, launched its Ukraine appeal on Thursday to provide emergency relief to those who have left their homes following Russia's invasion.
The Prince of Wales has also made personal donations to the British Red Cross, of which he is president.
The Duchess of Cornwall made what was described as a “substantial” donation to the Daily Mail’s refugee campaign, announced by the tabloid newspaper on Wednesday.
The official DEC appeal aims to raise funds to be distributed to charities responding to an emerging refugee crisis in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, giving people food, water and shelter.
Saleh Saeed, chief executive of DEC, said the charity was "absolutely grateful for every single pound" donated by the public, who have been moved by images and accounts of ordinary Ukrainians fleeing their homes to survive.
Every pound donated by the British public will be matched by the Government through its Aid Match scheme, up to the value of £20 million.
News of the Queen’s donation is the latest in the Royal family’s efforts to show support and solidarity with Ukraine.
Prince Charles has twice condemned the “brutal aggression” of Russian forces this week.
During a visit to a Ukrainian cathedral in London on Wednesday, he said he and his wife were “deeply moved” by “extraordinary bravery, generosity and fortitude of the Ukrainian community in the face of such truly terrible aggression”.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, has already thanked the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for expressing their solidarity with the people of his homeland.
In a message issued on Twitter on Sunday and signed “W & C”, to indicate it was written personally by them rather than staff, the Duke and Duchess said:
