The Queen has said it is "difficult to escape a very sombre national mood" following tragedies in London and Manchester.


Protesters took to the streets of London to call for action in the wake of the fire

The monarch said the UK had "witnessed a succession of terrible tragedies" in recent weeks.

Her official birthday message followed protests over the Grenfell Tower fire which killed at least 30 people.

The Queen's message added: "Put to the test, the United Kingdom has been resolute in the face of adversity."
'Terrible tragedy'

It comes after Prime Minister Theresa May, who was jeered when she visited the Kensington site on Friday, pledged to "get to the bottom" of the west London tower block fire amid mounting criticism of her response to the disaster.

The Queen and Duke of Cambridge had earlier met volunteers, residents and community representatives during a visit to the Westway Sports Centre.

In her statement, described by the BBC's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell as "unprecedented", the Queen. who also visited survivors of the Manchester bomb in hospital, said she had been "profoundly struck by the immediate inclination of people throughout the country to offer comfort and support to those in desperate need".

She added: "United in our sadness, we are equally determined, without fear or favour, to support all those rebuilding lives so horribly affected by injury and loss."

A rallying cry for unity

By Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent
Image copyright PA


The Queen met people affected by the fire during a visit to a temporary shelter

In a long reign, he Queen has issued countless statements. They can sometimes be formulaic and lack the ability to resonate.

This is not one of them.

After the attacks in Manchester and London, the Queen - and more importantly her senior advisers - have grasped quickly that the reaction to the Grenfell Tower fire has not just been one of shock and grief.

There's also intense anger. It has been focused on the divide between rich and poor and it has been directed at an establishment that includes the monarchy, though the institution itself has not been the subject of criticism.

In such circumstances, as Head of Nation - a focal point at times of tragedy - the Queen has decided she cannot remain silent.

She, and those around her, will be acutely aware of the potential for growing disquiet in the days ahead.

And so, a 91-year-old monarch with little concrete power but considerable patronage and status, has decided to act.

This is a regal rallying call for unity.
Media captionThe Queen meets people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire

The fire, at broke out at the 24-storey block, which contained 120 one and two-bedroom flats, shortly before 01:00 BST on Wednesday.

It tore through all floors of the building and took more than 200 firefighters 24 hours to bring it under control.

Protests were held in London on Friday as residents demanded more support for those affected by the fire.

Between 50 and 60 people stormed Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall as members of the public said the homeless needed help "right now".

There were also angry scenes outside the Clement James Centre, in North Kensington.

Dozens of demonstrators surged towards the entrance and there were scuffles outside as organisers appealed for calm.

The BBC's Matthew Price said locals had told him they wanted the prime minister to "cut out" Kensington and Chelsea council from the relief effort.

He said senior members of the residents' association described an "absolute chaos" of "no organisation" from officials.

He added: "They do not believe they are capable of managing the response. Such is the total and utter lack of trust."

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Reverend Mike Long, from Notting Hill Methodist Church, told Radio 4's Today that people in the community were furious.

He said: "People are incredibly angry, they're bewildered, they're confused, they have lots and lots of questions. They feel they're not being listened to and what they have been saying has not been listened to, and they don't know how to be able to express those things at the moment."
Image copyright PA


Hundreds gathered, arm in arm, and raised candles as they observed a two-minute silence
Media captionAngry protesters stormed Kensington Town Hall, demanding answers

Mrs May has faced criticism for not meeting survivors in the immediate aftermath, unlike Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Mr Corbyn has called for empty local homes to be requisitioned if necessary.

The prime minister has committed £5m for clothes, food and emergency supplies but was heckled with chants of "coward" after meeting survivors of the fire on Friday.

The £5m Grenfell Tower Residents' Discretionary Fund includes the aim to re-house residents within three weeks as close to where they lived before as possible, to pay for temporary housing in the meantime and to provide extra financial assistance.
Media captionAn angry crowd chanted to Theresa May: "Shame on you!"

First Secretary of State Damian Green defended the prime minister from accusations that she had misjudged the public mood, saying criticism of her was "unfair".

He told BBC Breakfast: "She is as distraught as anyone, as all of us are, we all feel the sadness, we all recognise the anger and can see why people are that angry and the prime minister feels that as much as anyone."

He added that she had listened to residents' concerns and was "acting on those concerns as quickly as possible".

Mrs May had told BBC Newsnight on Friday the government was doing all it could to help.
Media captionTheresa May says £5m will be available for survivors, and the cause of the Kensington fire is being looked at
Image copyright PA


A vigil has been set up near to the site of the disaster

On Friday night, hundreds of mourners stood arm in arm at a vigil and held a two-minute silence for victims of the fire.

Many wept openly as candles illuminated the road outside the Latymer Christian Centre, yards from the site of the blaze.

It came after emergency services spent a third day searching for bodies in the burnt-out tower in North Kensington.

Developments expected today include:

Theresa May's new Grenfell taskforce, which includes representatives of central government and Kensington and Chelsea Council, is due to meet.

Cardinal Vincent Nicholas, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, will lead an adoration and mass in memory of the fire victims at the nearby St Pius X Church.

The Confederation of Fire Protection Associations-International - a global body of fire protection organizations - said the quick fire spread seen at Grenfell was "eerily similar" to other high-rise fires in Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

The organisation said it was "deeply concerned" that there were many high-rise buildings around the world with flammable materials installed.

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So far in the investigation:

Six victims of the blaze have been provisionally identified by police
Of those killed, one died in hospital
Fire chiefs say they do not expect to find more survivors
A total of 24 people remained in hospital - 12 in a critical condition
A criminal investigation has been launched
UK councils are carrying out urgent reviews of their tower blocks, according to the Local Government Association
The British Red Cross has launched an appeal to raise money for those affected
The emergency number for people concerned about friends and family is 0800 0961 233

Media captionMetropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy said the recovery is being done with dignity
First victims named

On Thursday, the first victim of the fire was named as Syrian refugee Mohammed Alhajali, 23.

The Syria Solidarity Campaign said Mr Alhajali, a civil engineering student, had been in a flat on the 14th floor when the fire broke out, and had spent two hours on the phone to a friend in Syria.
Media captionVictim's brother recounts final call: "He said: 'Why did you leave me?'."

Two other victims have also been named.

Five-year-old Isaac Shawo reportedly got separated from his family in the smoke and later died.


Artist and photographer Khadija Saye, 24, lived on the 20th floor and also died.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40310959