News | Entertainment
29 Mar 2024 13:17
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Prince William has told refugees they "couldn’t be more welcome here”

    The Duke of Cambridge welcomed Afghans who fled the Taliban - who took control of the government earlier this year after the US and UK forces withdrew from a two-decade occupation - after they helped the British government in their military campaign in the country


    The 39-year-old royal - while speaking at a hotel in Leeds, whose details were not disclosed for safety reasons and capacity for 175 refugees - said: “The most important thing is that you are safe now. You have a bright future.”

    He added: “You couldn’t be more welcome. Thank you for all you have done.”

    The message was met cheers and a round of applause, and William then moved on to chat to two families who were lucky enough to escape Kabul in September, including married couple Haroom Shahab, 33, and Zehra Akbart, 28, who shared how they waited 28 hours at the airport to get a flight out.

    Zehra recalled seeing countless “desperate” people fail to get on planes leaving the country after their lives were “torn to shreds”.

    She told William: "They were running, they were desperate, in front of the oncoming aircraft. That was very hard for us. We were trying to get out of the country because our lives has been torn to shreds.”

    Haroom shared how getting to the UK meant they “would be safe” from the oppressive regime currently enacted in Afghanistan - who were targeting anyone “with a link” to the NATO operation in the area.

    He added: “When we got to the UK we finally knew we would be safe. The Taliban are killing people without compassion – policemen and their families just gunned down. Anyone with a link to British or NATO forces or government.”

    William responded: “It must be very difficult trying to build your new life here while you are so worried about them.”

    Hussain Saeedi Samagan - a 38-year-old ex-political secretary at the British Embassy who came to the country with his ex-newspaper editor wife Masooma, 31, and their two sons Daniel, 10, and Arian, one - said he felt welcome in Yorkshire.

    William then asked he thought the Taliban would less severe at this stage, -after years away from government.

    Hussain doubted this, telling the prince: “No. We know what the Taliban wants, we know they have not changed and that we couldn’t trust them.”

    He then told the second-in-line for the throne: “We are settling in well, we are making friends. Daniel said to me this morning he had made

    11 friends at school.”

    To which William said: “11 friends? You have than I have.”

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Mar: Pregnant mum-of-one Ashley Tisdale has admitted she vowed never to have a second baby
     29 Mar: Kelly Clarkson is reportedly happy and has no regrets about ending her marriage to Brandon Blackstock
     29 Mar: Eva Mendes says she and Ryan Gosling had a "non-verbal agreement" she'd be a stay-at-home mum
     29 Mar: Rebel Wilson has dec lared she won't be "bullied or threatened" by Sacha Baron Cohen
     29 Mar: Whoopi Goldberg stormed off the stage of 'The View' to tell off an audience member for filming it on his phone
     29 Mar: Machine Gun Kelly is said to be in "good spirits" despite Megan Fox admitting they once called off their engagement
     29 Mar: Inside Islamic State's transformation, from life support to 'slaughtering with gusto'
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Calls for Rugby Australia to back their women's game from Chiefs Manawa fullback Renee Holmes More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Innovative New Zealand apple producing company Rockit is focussing on its international expansion More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A scene examination is underway, following the death of a man after an incident yesterday, at a restaurant in Auckland's Browns Bay 13:07

    Entertainment:
    Pregnant mum-of-one Ashley Tisdale has admitted she vowed never to have a second baby 12:53

    Soccer:
    An 11th-hour broadcast replacement has saved the blushes of administrators in football's A-Leagues 12:27

    Entertainment:
    Kelly Clarkson is reportedly happy and has no regrets about ending her marriage to Brandon Blackstock 12:23

    Living & Travel:
    South Africa bus crash leaves at least 45 dead after vehicle plunges off bridge and catches fire 11:57

    Rugby League:
    Black Ferns fullback Renee Holmes is unlikely to make a code switch to rugby league in the immediate future 11:57

    Entertainment:
    Eva Mendes says she and Ryan Gosling had a "non-verbal agreement" she'd be a stay-at-home mum 11:53

    Law and Order:
    A forensics team is in Auckland's Browns Bay, as investigations continue after one person died, after assaulting someone 11:27

    Entertainment:
    Rebel Wilson has dec lared she won't be "bullied or threatened" by Sacha Baron Cohen 11:23

    Accident and Emergency:
    An eight-year-old child is the sole survivor of a bus crash in South Africa that's killed 45 people 11:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd