'Shocked' Princess Anne changes royal tour itinerary after fire at boarding school kills 11 girls
Princess Anne has been left "shocked" after a deadly fire at a boarding school for blind students she was set to visit in Uganda on Friday.
The dormitory blaze took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning – the day the Princess Royal kicked off her four-day royal tour – killing 11 girls aged between seven and 10 years of age.
"I was shocked to hear the news of the tragic loss of life," the Princess Royal said in a statement via Buckingham Palace.
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Princess Anne speaks as she officially opens a branch of the Opportunity Bank in Nakivale refugee settlement, in southwestern Uganda, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Luke Dray/Opportunity International via AP
"The work of Sense International across many countries is hugely appreciated, working with such a vulnerable group of children. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and staff."
Police said six other children were treated for severe burns, while three managed to escape. The cause of the dormitory blaze at Salama School for the Blind in Mukono District is not yet known.
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Most of the kids were trapped inside because the fire broke out at a barred window, a government minister said, according to Telegraph UK.
The incident prompted a slight change to Princess Anne's itinerary for the last day of her short tour.
The children were prevented from escaping because the fire broke out at a barred window, a government minister said. AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday the 72-year-old would still visit the charity but in a slightly different way.
Instead of visiting the school in a remote village east of Kampala, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will visit the charity's head office in Kampala.
"Her Royal Highness will meet charity representatives and families it supports," the palace said.
The Princess Royal, who is the patron of Sense International "will have an opportunity to pay her respects to those affected", they added.
As patron of Opportunity International, Princess Anne officially opened the first commercial bank in the Nakivale refugee settlement settlement on Wednesday.
Instead of visiting the school in a remote village east of Kampala, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will now visit the charity's headquarters. AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda
And on Thursday, the Save the Children UK royal patron will visit projects in the Kyangwali refugee settlement.
Princess Anne's trip to East Africa marks her first royal tour since the death of her mother, Queen Elizabeth, who died in Scotland on September 8.
The Princess Royal was charged with escorting Her Majesty's coffin across parts of the UK on it's final journey back to Windsor during the official 10-day period of mourning.
As patron of Opportunity International, Princess Anne officially opened the first commercial bank in the Nakivale refugee settlement settlement on Wednesday. Luke Dray/Opportunity International via AP
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