The King concerning the effects of Tropical Cyclone Alfref

We have received a message from His Majesty The King concerning the effects of Tropical Cyclone Alfred: After our visit to Australia at the end of last year, my wife and I felt it was important to convey our heartfelt thoughts to all those who have been profoundly impacted by the severe weather events along Australia's East coast over the past two months, from the flooding in North Queensland to the devastating aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred on communities in Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

The Queen and I have been following these weather events with increasing concern. While Australians are no strangers to such disasters, we continue to be deeply inspired by their remarkable resilience and community spirit. However, the consequences remain utterly devastating, particularly for those who have recently recovered or are still in the process of recovering from another natural disaster. The straightforward kindness and bravery displayed by Australians have left a lasting impression on me since my first visit nearly sixty years ago, and once again, these qualities have been evident as people support one another through these challenges. Most importantly, we want to express our sincere gratitude to the police, emergency services, military personnel, government and local authorities, as well as the many volunteers from across the nation for their preparedness, response, and ongoing recovery efforts. We greatly admire their exceptional dedication and selfless service to their fellow Australians, to whom we extend our warmest thoughts and best wishes. CHARLES R The Royal Family