Duke of Cambridge praises family liaison officers in Grenfell Tower work
The Duke of Cambridge has praised the work of family liaison officers working with families affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
The Duke of Cambridge is at the @metpoliceuk Passing Out Parade, to mark the graduation of 182 new recruits from the Met's Police Academy. pic.twitter.com/tsQCjIkCMD
-- Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 3, 2017
He met the officers as he attended the Metropolitan Police's passing out parade for new police constables in Hendon, north London.
He told them: "Well done guys, you really do an honourable job."
The Duke joins the Commissioner Cressida Dick and Chief Superintendent Penny Banham to take the salute and inspect the Parade. pic.twitter.com/15MZdN9uAd
-- Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 3, 2017
The liaison officers, also based in Hendon, have been helping families, includng those who escaped the burning building.
William said: "I don't even know how you begin to deal with that, it's a really harrowing job you have to do."
William also met some of the 182 new constables who were celebrating graduating from the Met's Police Academy, watched by family and friends as they marched on the parade square at Hendon Police Complex.
The Passing Out Parade at Hendon marks an important moment for every new @metpoliceuk officer, and their family. pic.twitter.com/kwg7BzfdhW
-- Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 3, 2017
They were inspected by the Duke and Commissioner Cressida Dick, who walked down the line, stopping to talk to some of them.
Each new officer will be posted to a London borough.
After the display, William joked: "Pretty much everybody I met at the parade out there was going to Croydon."
The Duke congratulates some of the graduating officers who have received the highest honours during their training. pic.twitter.com/MfBKPIxL3I
-- Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 3, 2017
The passing-out parade is a traditional ceremony that has taken place at Hendon since 1934 and marks the transition from trainee officer to probationer.
The Duke congratulated the new officers, and asking them about exam revision said: "(It was) something that I was pretty poor at."
The Duke plants a tree in the Memorial Garden to commemorate his visit. pic.twitter.com/0uhKOJVa0e
-- Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 3, 2017
At the conclusion of his visit, he planted a commemorative cherry tree in the memorial garden.