'HORRIBLE PROCESS’
Prince William encourages teen Grenfell survivors to talk about missing their friends as he decorates new boxing club on DIY SOS
PRINCE William has offered words of support to survivors of the Grenfell Tower blaze after joining Nick Knowles for a DIY SOS special to help victims of the fire.
The Duke of Cambridge spoke with those who lost loved ones as he was filmed for the TV show and helped to build a community centre for those affected.
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Dad-of-three William met with a 14-year-old boy who lost a friend in the fire and asked him how he was coping.
He said: "It’s a horrible process to have to go through. You have got the right people around you and I hope you talk about it.
"You’ve got to talk about how much you miss your friends, that’s perfectly normal and keep boxing as well. I can see that twinkle in your eyes, you’re going to be good."
Wills wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty as helped out with painting for the new boxing club after its previous home was destroyed by the devastating blaze last June.
The first floor of the tower was home to Dale Youth Boxing Club, but since the inferno which killed 71 people, it has been based in a car park.
The DIY SOS team are creating a new home for the celebrated boxing gym and are also building a separate hub for the community - just metres from the gutted West London tower block.
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Wills donned a hard hat and high-vis jacket as he spoke about the scale of the tragedy.
In an emotional speech he said: "I think everyone has been shocked at how brutal and horrendous it all was."
In a chat with presenter Nick he added: "It’s been one of the worst disasters in modern time I think in this country.
"I think everyone is trying to play catch up with how do you deal with such a truly horrendous situation.
"But for the community they’re reliving it all the time. Progress needs to happen and the community coming together is the first part of fixing that. But there is still lot to do."
Speaking about those living in temporary accommodation he added: "While people are living in hotels it’s very hard to get back to a normal life isn’t it?"
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The BBC show's producers spent months working out what shape the project would take and finding the appropriate site, before undertaking a six-month consultation with those living in the neighbourhood about the plans.
Presenter Knowles said after the project was announced: "It became apparent that it wasn't just the people who were in the building that had been affected, this is a community that has been affected and they wanted something that would be for the community.
"It is important that the community starts to feel like it is in charge of something and the thing that is becoming more apparent is that something is happening.
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"The general opinion is 'why aren't things happening?'
"For us to be able to get something up, under way and built inside a year will remind the community that people actually do care, people are ready to come and help this community start to rebuild itself.
"We are putting a new sprinkler system in despite the fact that it is not actually required - we are making our own judgement above and beyond what is required, because it is important the people that have been through such a disaster feel safe and secure in whatever we build for them."
DIY SOS: Grenfell airs on Wednesday, September 5 on BBC One at 9pm.
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