Wills and Kate thank volunteers who raised thousands for earthquake relief in Turkey

KATE and William today praised “amazing” communities fundraising for families left homeless after the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

The Prince and Princess of Wales met volunteers at the Hayes Muslim Centre in west London, where members helped raise more than £25,000.

Red Cross Director of Programmes Inma Lopez who has recently been to Syria was also there representing our appeal.

They also met with six-year-old Jess Jordan, of Battersea, South London, with mum Esther, 43, a writer, and dad Rob, 42, and brother Josh, three.

She donated £50 to The Sun’s appeal for the Red Cross, inspired by her school’s fundraising.

During the visit, Kate said: “It’s sad that there’s a need to do funding – it’s amazing there are communities like this here raising.”

As a mark of respect the couple removed their shoes and Kate covered her head with a scarf as the centre, which is a resource for the wider community providing cultural, sporting and educational events, is also a mosque.

Sun readers have donated more than £1.4million to the appeal.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake and a later 7.5 tremor, which both struck on February 6, claimed tens of thousands of lives in south-eastern Turkey and Syria and reduced thousands of homes and buildings to rubble as people slept.

Kind-hearted Brits have helped the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal raise £121m – including donations from the King and Queen Consort and William and Kate.

Before leaving, the couple will meet other communities who have made considerable efforts to fundraise as part of the appeal, including the Turkish Women’s Association, an organisation based in Richmond which partnered with a local community and a number of schools to raise more than £10,000.