As we commemorate eight years since the Grenfell Tower travesty – the country’s worst residential fire since the Second World War – Prince William will reflect on the promise he made during his first visit.
The blaze, which began on June 14, 2017, and burned for 60 hours, took the lives of 72 people including a six-month-old baby.
The late Queen and William visited the site to speak with survivors, relatives of those who died, as well as volunteers and emergency services workers on June 16, 2017.
The two were met with applause when they visited the Westway Sports Centre in White City – a venue which had been a focal point for efforts to support those affected by the deadly high rise fire – where they met volunteers and residents.
William talked emotionally about the disaster and described it as ‘one of the most terrible things I have ever seen’.
But as they left they were met with hecklers with one man shouting: ‘What about the children?’
William held his hand up in a calm manner and told the man not to worry, reassuring him that they would return.
And he kept to his promise – since 2017 he has been actively involved in supporting survivors of the fire, attending memorial services, visiting support centers and expressing concerns about the long-term impact of the tragedy.
In response to being heckled during the visit Prince William held his hand up in a calm manner and told the man not to worry, reassuring him that they would return – a promise which he has upheld
The late Queen and William visited the site of the disaster to speak with survivors, relatives of those who died, as well as volunteers and emergency services workers on June 16, 2017
MailOnline wrote at the time of their first visit that William echoed his late mother as he hugged a grief-stricken survivor.
He ignored royal protocol to comfort Fatima Jafari who was desperately searching for her husband Ali Yawr, one of the 72 people who died in the fire.
Mr Jafari, 82, had not been seen since he became trapped in a lift while trying to flee the burning building.
He lived on the 11th floor of the tower with his wife and the BBC reported that he was described as a ‘real hero’ for alerting his neighbours to the fire as it spread.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the Queen said she and her husband, Prince Philip, wanted pay tribute to members of the emergency services who risked their own lives to save others.
And she said it was ‘heartening’ to see the way people had rallied around those affected.
It read: ‘My thoughts and prayers are with those families who have lost loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire and the many people who are still critically ill in hospital.
‘Prince Philip and I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of firefighters and other emergency services officers who put their own lives at risk to save others.
Grenfell fire – pictured on July 14, 2017, – was the worst fire in terms of fire deaths within living memory in the UK
William meets firefighters during a visit to the Westway Sports Centre, London, which provided temporary shelter for those who have been made homeless in the Grenfell Tower disaster
William and Prince Harry are pictured after attending the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service at St Paul’s Cathedral on December 14, 2017
‘It is also heartening to see the incredible generosity of community volunteers rallying to help those affected by this terrible event. ELIZABETH R.’
The visit from the late Queen and William came a day after then-prime minister Theresa May attended the Westway in a move that provoked widespread criticism.
Mrs May was accused of misreading the public mood after the fire after she stayed for just 15 minutes and did not meet with survivors.
She returned to meet with victims on Friday but had to be swiftly bungled into a Government Land Rover as a furious crowd hurled abuse at her.
The following day she met survivors of Grenfell Tower in Downing Street as she admitted the her response to the tragedy ‘was not good enough’.
Six months after the disaster a memorial service was held at St Paul’s Cathedral which was attended by relatives of the victims, members of the Royal Family and fire crew.
Princes Charles, William and Prince Harry were joined by the Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge with Kate clearly battling tears as tributes were made to those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
After the service, the royals were quick to engage with the families, providing comforting words and a friendly face for them to talk to and share their grief with.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the launch of the National Emergencies Trust at St Martin-in-the-Fields on November 7, 2019
It came after Boris Johnson branded London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s response to the tragedy ‘spineless’ after Tory councillors were blocked from attending the memorial service.
In the years that followed the tragedy William has remained a strong advocate for those impacted by the fire and has been praised by survivors and bereaved families for being ‘very passionate’ about the community.
He joined the DIY SOS team for a special project supporting victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2018 as they worked towards replacing the club and building a new community centre.
In 2019 William and Kate attended the launch of the National Emergencies Trust, of which the prince is a patron, at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in central London.
The independent charity provides an emergency response to disasters in the UK, and was set up after several terror attacks since 2017.
In a poignant speech, William praised the ‘humbling resilience and strength’ of survivors and the communities who pull together in the wake of tragedy and disasters.
As president of the Football Association, for the sixth anniversary of the fire in 2023 William visited Queens Park Rangers football club to hear how they provided support in the aftermath of the blaze.
Kate and William are pictured during a multi-faith and wreath laying ceremony at base of Grenfell Tower in June, 2022
William is seen on a visit to Loftus Road, the home of Queens Park Rangers in west London, ahead of the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire in May, 2023
The Duke has visited organisations like the QPR in the Community Trust which provide support through mentoring, mental health support, and personal development.
He has encouraged survivors to talk about their mental health and the impact of the fire, stressing the importance of addressing the issue without fear of stigma.
As we commemorate eight years since the disaster at Grenfell, there is certainly a lot to remember – including the 72 people aged between six months and 84 year who lost their lives.
The final report of the six-year public inquiry concluded in September 2024 and provided a shocking insight into how fire safety in high-rise buildings has been managed and regulated.
The coalition and Conservative governments ‘ignored, delayed or disregarded’ concerns about the safety of industry practices, the inquiry said.
Among the recommendations laid out in the 1,700-page report, are the introduction of a single construction regulator, a College of Fire and Rescue to improve the training of firefighters and changes to the way materials are tested for fire safety.
The charred Grenfell Tower is pictured against the London skyline on June 16, 2017
Pictured is a memorial wall by Grenfell Tower on February 6, 2025. The British government has announced London’s Grenfell Tower will be dismantled to ground level
Police and prosecutors have said that investigators will need until the end of 2025 to complete their inquiry, with final decisions on potential criminal charges by the end of 2026.
The tower is currently being dismantled, with the process expected to take around two years, confirmed by the government in February 2025 and is scheduled to begin after the anniversary of the fire on June 14.
For those directly impacted by the fire, including the 223 who escaped, the building serves a stark reminder of the tragedy that ensured.
The government, along with the Kensington and Chelsea Council and Grenfell United, have agreed that a permanent memorial will be built on the site to honor those who lost their lives in the fire.
This memorial will be a ‘peaceful place for remembering and reflecting’ and will include a garden, a monument, and a dedicated space for the families of those who died.
