Queen Elizabeth II will make a private donation in support of a fundraising appeal on behalf of victims of Australia's worst-ever wildfires, a royal spokeswoman said on Tuesday. Buckingham Palace declined to specify the size of the donation, which will go to the Victorian Bushfire Fund, launched by the Australian Red Cross along with the Victoria state premier and the federal government. Queen Elizabeth made similar contributions to fundraising appeals after the Asian tsunami in December 2004 and the July 2005 suicide bombings on London's public transport network.
Firefighters were on Tuesday still battling to save Australian communities threatened by the wildfires that have already claimed 181 lives, a toll that is expected to rise. In a statement on Sunday, the queen said: "I was shocked and saddened to learn of the terrible toll being exacted by the fires this weekend." She expressed "heartfelt condolences" to the families of those who died, "deep sympathy" to those who lost their homes, and tribute to the "extraordinary" efforts of the emergency services.
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