King Charles III has been left "profoundly saddened" by the destruction and loss of life caused by Hurricane Beryl across the Caribbean, he has revealed in a new statement.
The king, who is also monarch of eight Caribbean nations including Jamaica, Saint Lucia and the Bahamas, sent a personal message of support to the area after the Category 4 storm hit land with destructive winds and heavy rainfall. According to the Associated Press, at least seven people have died as a result of the storm, with many more expected to be injured.
"My family and I have been profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl across the Caribbean," the king said. "Above all, we send our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of those who have so cruelly lost their lives."
"I have seen the extraordinary spirit of resilience and solidarity that people across the Caribbean have shown in response to such destruction—a spirit which has been called upon too often—and so I also send my particular gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers who are supporting the rescue and recovery efforts," he continued.
"At this most difficult of times, please know that our most special thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives, livelihoods and property have been so utterly devastated."
Charles visited a number of Caribbean nations throughout his early life and term as Prince of Wales, and as king has met with their prime ministers in London, most recently en masse at his coronation celebrations in 2023.
Despite there being a growing republican sentiment among many of the nations which still count the British king as sovereign, many still wish to remain members of the Commonwealth of nations. This group counts Charles as the head of its collective, having voted him to succeed his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at a meeting in London in 2018. When the queen died in 2022, Charles assumed the symbolic role and title of Head of the Commonwealth.
Hurricane Beryl has caused widespread damage throughout the Caribbean, with Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Jamaica taking significant hits.
In Jamaica, at least 500 people have been placed in shelters, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness saying on Wednesday: "We can do as much as we can do, as humanly possible, and we leave the rest in the hands of God."
The hurricane is making its way towards the Gulf of Mexico where it is forecast to weaken to tropical storm level and hit land over the weekend. In Texas, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. has issued a voluntary evacuation notice for people in RVs, with particular reference to resorts in Arroyo City.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
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