Kate Middleton sends letter to family of Sarah Everard

The Duchess of Cambridge sent a ‘deeply personal’ letter to Sarah Everard‘s family, sources have revealed.

The 33-year-old marketing executive went missing just three miles from where Kate and her sister Pippa used to share a flat in Chelsea, southwest London, before her marriage to Prince William. 

The Duchess, 39, visited Clapham Common to lay flowers at the bandstand earlier this month alongside other mourners in the days after Ms Everard’s body was found.

She has since sent a message to Ms Everard’s family and, although the contents of the letter have been kept private, the duchess is believed to have offered her condolences and told the family that they are in her thoughts. 

The Duchess of Cambridge was seen placing daffodils at the vigil for Sarah Everard on Clapham Common earlier this month

A source told The Mirror: ‘This was a deeply personal and heartfelt letter, simply to express her absolute sadness at what Sarah’s family and loved ones are going through.

‘The Duchess knows that no words can change what has happened, but wanted to let them know that they and Sarah are in her thoughts.

‘She remembers what it is like to walk alone as a young woman in London, and elsewhere, and like so many other women she has been thinking deeply about her experiences during those times. 

Durham University graduate Ms Everard went missing on March 3 while walking home after visiting a friend

‘It was important for her to pay her respects in this way.

‘This was a private matter to her and she wanted to show unity with everyone else who shares these feelings.’  

A separate source close to Ms Everard’s family said they were ‘extremely touched’ to have received the letter. 

Kensington Palace said it would not comment on private correspondence. 

The Duchess had made a private visit to the bandstand in Clapham Common where mourners placed flowers and cards earlier this month.

The mother-of-three laid daffodils and paused for a moment to reflect on the dozens of bouquets. 

And a Palace source said at the time that Kate had attended the memorial ‘to pay her respects to Sarah and her family’.

Later police were criticised for their heavy-handed treatment of women who attended a vigil at the site, which officers said was in breach of Covid rules. 

Durham University graduate Ms Everard was described by her family as ‘bright, beautiful and a wonderful daughter and sister’ who was ‘kind, thoughtful, caring and dependable.’ 

She went missing on March 3 while walking through the common en route to her home in Brixton after visiting a friend.  

Her body was found in woodland near Ashford, Kent, on March 10.

It was reported earlier this week that her cause of death is still unknown. 

Later police were criticised for their heavy-handed treatment of women who attended a vigil at the site (pictured) which officers said was in breach of Covid rules

Ms Everard’s death sparked an outpouring of support from women nationwide, who had felt scared walking alone or who had been the victim of sexual harassment or assault.

Serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, from Deal, also in Kent, has been charged with her murder.

Couzens, a married father-of-two, worked in Scotland Yard’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit.

His plea hearing has been scheduled for July 9, while a provisional trial date has been pencilled in for October 25.