In the wake of this week’s devastating terror attack in Manchester, The Queen visited those injured at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital yesterday.
Whilst at the hospital in Manchester, The Queen spoke to 12-year-old Amy Barlow, from Rawtenstall, and her mum, Kathy. pic.twitter.com/nzYPo5cgu3
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 25, 2017
Her Majesty meets Evie Mills, aged 14, from Harrogate, her mum, Karen and dad, Craig at the hospital in Manchester. pic.twitter.com/DK14fFRGQS
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 25, 2017
Show of support
In a show of concern, the 91-year-old monarch spoke with hospital staff and chatted bedside to survivors and their families, following Monday’s terrible events at Ariana Grande’s Manchester Arena concert.
“It’s dreadful. Very wicked, to target that sort of thing,” the Queen told 14-year-old Evie Mills and her parents The ABC reports.
“I have a few holes in my legs and stuff, and I have a bit of a cut, and my arm and just a bit here, but compared to other people I’m quite lucky really,” Evie said of her injuries.
The Queen told Evie she thought Ariana Grande was a “very good singer” noting “she sounds very, very good.”
“She is lovely,” Evie said of the monarch. “It’s like mind-blowing, really..!”
Families grieve
It’s now known that 22 people died and 59 were injured in the attack, amongst them children, teenagers, parents and carers. What was meant to be a thrilling, joyful event for many young fans now marks an unforgettable loss of innocence for so many traumatised children.
It’s incomprehensible that terrorists would target young people and children like this. Among the fatalities there is an 8-year-old girl, 9 teenagers and 12 adults.
Along with the deaths of children – mums, dads, a teacher, a policeman, a stepdad, an aunty, a family friend lost their lives as they left the show on Monday night or waited to pick up children or teens who had attended.
The longest wait
Our hearts broke as desperate parents flooded social media in the hours after the attack, searching for missing children who just hours earlier they’d excitedly sent off to the event. Many were reunited as unaccompanied minors were gathered together by emergency services, but some mums and dads received tragic, life-changing news and are now grieving for lost children.
Those who died as a result of Monday’s attack are:
Saffie Rose Roussos, 8
Megan Hurley, 15
Elaine McIver, 43
Courtney Boyle, 19
Philip Tron, 32
Wendy Fawell, 50
Eilidh MacLeod, 14
Chloe Rutherford, 17
Liam Curry, 19
Sorrell Leczkowski, 14
Michelle Kiss, 45
Jane Tweddle-Tayor, 51
Nell Jones, 14
Martyn Hett, 29
Angelika Klis, 40
Marcin Klis, 42
Olivia Campbell, 15
Alison Howe, 44
Lisa Lees, 43
Kelly Brewster, 32
Georgina Callandar, 18
John Atkinson, 26
A message from The Duke of Cambridge following last night's attack in Manchester. pic.twitter.com/g8EWtuC2A8
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 23, 2017
“Shocked and saddened”
Shortly after the attack, Prince William issued a statement expressing the younger royals shock and sadness following the Manchester bombing.
It took its place with thousands and thousands of messages of despair by regular people and high profile types, lamenting that violence and brutality was imposed on innocent children during what should have been a joyful rite of passage, in what should have been a safe space.
Our thoughts are with all those affected by this horrendous attack – and our thanks are with the emergency services, helpers and medical staff who responded so quickly in terribly grim circumstances.
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) May 23, 2017
