Queen Elizabeth, Prince William, and Kate Middleton Send Sympathies Following the Attacks in Sri Lanka
Over the weekend, suicide bombings in Sri Lanka killed nearly 300 people.
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One day after suicide bombers killed nearly 300 people in coordinated attacks at luxury hotels and Easter Sunday services at churches in Sri Lanka, the British royal family is sending their sympathies to the country.
Queen Elizabeth issued a statement this morning, in which she and Prince Philip not only sent condolences, but also paid tribute to those who provided emergency services in the aftermath of the blasts.
It reads in full:
Prince Philip and I were deeply saddened to learn of the attacks in Sri Lanka and send our condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives.
I pay tribute to the medical and emergency services who are providing support to those who have been injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with all Sri Lankans at this difficult time.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also offered their sympathies in a brief message to the people of Sri Lanka, in which they said they were "deeply saddened" to learn of the bombings:
We have been deeply saddened to learn of the devastating attacks in Sri Lanka this Easter Sunday.
Senseless acts like these in places that people would expect to be at their safest are truly horrifying.
Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives, to the Christian community, and to the people of Sri Lanka at this tragic time. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Prince Charles, too, shared his thoughts this morning in a letter to the President of Sri Lanka, which was posted on social media.
My wife and I were utterly horrified and profoundly saddened to hear of the barbaric attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka this Easter Sunday. That so many men, women and children should be targeted for their faith, and so cruelly killed and injured in their places of worship on this most holy of days for Christians, is a despicable atrocity and an attack on us all.
Read his full letter here.
At this point, 24 people have been arrested in connection with the bombings. In addition to the 290 people who have died as a result of Sunday's attacks, an additional 500 people were injured.
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