ROYAL TRIBUTE
Kate Middleton pays tribute at Sarah Everard vigil because she ‘remembers what it is like to walk alone in London’
KATE Middleton has paid tribute to Sarah Everard yesterday at Clapham Common as she "remembers what it's like to walk in London alone".
The Duchess of Cambridge was among tearful mourners who gathered at the spot the 33-year-old was last seen as vigils were cancelled across the UK.
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A Palace source said yesterday: "The Duchess wanted to pay her respects to Sarah and her family.
"She remembers what it felt like to walk around London at night before she got married."
Last night, there were clashes as police moved in to clear people who had gathered at the site.
Some were dragged away from Clapham Common bandstand in scenes described as “upsetting” and “disturbing”.
Earlier, Kate was without husband Wills and their children — and any obvious security — as she joined hundreds at the shrine at Clapham Common bandstand.
She laid daffodils picked from the garden at Kensington Palace and paused for around five minutes reading cards and looking at the sea of flowers.
A royal source said it was a private visit inspired by Kate’s own experiences from walking alone at night in London and elsewhere. They said the duchess wanted to pay respects to Sarah’s family.
The source added: “Kate also wanted to show unity to everyone else who is having the same feelings right now. She wanted to do it privately and felt it was the right thing to do. There was no fanfare.”
Last night PM Boris Johnson and his fiancée Carrie Symonds lit candles for Sarah at No 10 — as Brits did the same on doorsteps.
As he prepared to light his candle, Mr Johnson said he and Carrie would be thinking of Sarah’s family and friends.
The PM stressed: “I cannot imagine how unbearable their pain and grief is. We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime.
"I will do everything I can to make sure the streets are safe and ensure women and girls do not face harassment or abuse.”
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A further 31 vigils for Sarah Everard were also due to take place at 6pm in cities across the UK - including Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Belfast and Cardiff.
But the Met Police moved to ban the event due to Covid restrictions with other forces following suit.
Campaign group Reclaim These Streets mounted a High Court challenge on Thursday but a judge upheld the police's decision to block the event - forcing organisers to cancel vigils across the UK.
Despite the ban, a small, a large number of people still came together at the bandstand where they held a minute’s silence at 6pm.
Images and video on social media later showed women being dragged away by officers.
A red-haired woman was seen being pinned to the ground and handcuffed by a male officer.
In video footage, five women could be seen on the bandstand gripping the railings as officers asked them to leave. When they refused, they were grabbed.
Other film, shot from nearby flats and obtained by The Sun on Sunday, shows cops and protesters clashing near police vans.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said last night: “Some of the footage circulating online from the vigil in Clapham is upsetting.
“I have asked the Metropolitan Police for a full report on what happened. My thoughts remain with Sarah’s family and friends at this terrible time.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “The scenes in Clapham this evening are deeply disturbing.
“Women came together to mourn Sarah Everard — they should have been able to do so peacefully. I share their anger and upset at how this has been handled. This was not the way to police this protest.”
It came a day after Sarah's alleged killer Wayne Couzens appeared in court.
It comes as...
- Sarah Everard disappeared while walking home to Brixton from Clapham last week
- Sarah's family said the 33-year-old was a "kind and beautiful" woman
- Wayne Couzens, 48, was taken to hospital with head injuries after being taken into custody
- The suspect was linked to an alleged sex offence three days before Sarah disappeared
- Organisers of a vigil for Sarah Everard have been left furious after the Met Police threatened them with fines under Covid rules
- CCTV from a London bus has helped cops in their investigations, it was reported
- A body found in Kent woodlands is confirmed to be that of missing Sarah Everard, police said yesterday
- Wayne Couzens, 48, yesterday appeared in court charged on suspicion of her murder and kidnap
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The Met Police yesterday said they took "no joy" in cancelling the event but insisted it was the "right thing to do".
And other police forces confirmed they had cancelled events across the UK.
Greater Manchester Police said they were "shocked and saddened" about Sarah's death but warned "gathering in large groups is still unlawful".
Merseyside Police thanked organisers for postponing a vigil due to be held in Liverpool city centre last night.
In a tweet, the force said: "We would like to thank the organisers of the Reclaim These Streets vigil for postponing their event until a time when it is safe and legal to do so without fear of attributing to potential spread of the coronavirus."
Sarah's death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the public, with many women and girls sharing stories online of experiencing violence by men.
The vigils were designed to show that women should feel safe no matter the time of day.
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Sarah's family on Thursday paid tribute to their "bright and beautiful daughter and sister".
In a statement, Sarah's family said: "Our beautiful daughter Sarah was taken from us and we are appealing for any information that will help to solve this terrible crime.
"Sarah was bright and beautiful - a wonderful daughter and sister. She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.
"She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all. We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives.
"We would like to thank our friends and family for all their support during this awful time and we would especially like to thank Sarah’s friends who are working tirelessly to help."
Meanwhile, Wayne Couzens, 48, appeared in court charged on suspicion of her murder and kidnap.
Speaking to reporters outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said Met Police were determined to get justice for Sarah after finding the body hidden in woodlands in Ashford, Kent.
He said this week: "As you know, on Wednesday evening detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard discovered a body secreted in woodland in Kent.
"The body has now been recovered and formal identification procedure has now been undertaken. I can now confirm that it is the body of Sarah Everard."
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He confirmed Sarah's family had been given the "distressing" update.
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The gun cop, who joined the Met Police in 2018, appeared in the dock in person at Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning.
Flanked by two police officers, Couzens sat with his head in his hands while wearing a grey jumper. He appeared to have a red wound on the top of his forehead.
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Sarah Everard news latest – Wayne Couzens charged with the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard
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