News | Entertainment
1 Jul 2025 12:16
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.”

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Jun: Kneecap play Glastonbury set amid terrorism charge as police investigate crowd chants
     28 Jun: Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Harvey Weinstein cases test the limits and legacy of #MeToo movement
     27 Jun: Charlize Theron's daughter was reduced to tears by her mullet
     27 Jun: Demi Lovato is releasing her first cookbook
     27 Jun: Sharon Osbourne believes that Ozzy Osbourne's fans will "carry him" through Black Sabbath's farewell gig
     27 Jun: John Cena called out a fan for filming him without permission
     27 Jun: Tom Brady is reportedly set to attend Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's lavish Italian wedding
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Levi Aumua is departing the Crusaders after two Super Rugby seasons More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    China's EV newcomer Xiaomi sells nearly 300,000 SUVs in an hour More...



     Today's News

    Rugby League:
    Warriors reserve grade halfback Tanah Boyd's decision to reject an approach to join North Queensland in the NRL looks poised for reward 11:57

    Cricket:
    Proverbial white smoke has emerged from the Australian cricket team's HQ in the Caribbean on their West Indies tour 11:37

    Rugby League:
    Warriors' reserve grade play-maker Tanah Boyd views himself as a logical replacement if halfback Luke Metcalf is ruled out for the NRL season with a knee injury 11:27

    National:
    Trump’s worldview is causing a global shift of alliances – what does this mean for nations in the middle? 11:17

    International:
    Musicians like Abel Selaocoe are broadening classical music to reflect our evolving stories 11:17

    Cricket:
    Black Cap Ish Sodhi's desperate to show his spinning evolution after earning a reprieve under incoming coach Rob Walter 10:47

    Environment:
    Warmer seas are fuelling the dangerous ‘weather bomb’ about to hit NSW 10:37

    National:
    Understanding the ‘Slopocene’: how the failures of AI can reveal its inner workings 10:27

    National:
    Sudan: foreign interests are deepening a devastating war – only regional diplomacy can stop them 10:17

    Law and Order:
    A 31-year-old man's been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to a homicide investigation in South Auckland's Otahuhu 10:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd