Royal Watch News

Prince Charles makes bushfire donation

Jan 10, 2013, 12:02 GMT

Prince Charles and Camilla

Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, have donated to the Tasmanian Bushfires Appeal.

The Australian state has been hit by huge fires - which have destroyed 130 properties and burnt 110,000 hectares since last Thursday (03.01.13) - and the Prince of Wales has given a 'significant' donation to the appeal, which has already raised $2 million.

Charles and Camilla made a five-hour stopover in the island state in November as part of their tour to mark the Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee celebrations last year.

As well as donating money, Charles has sent messages of support to those affected by the fires, as has his mother Queen Elizabeth.

A number of large bushfires continue to burn, but most of the state's 30 bushfires were downgraded on Wednesday evening (09.01.13).

A watch and act alert remains in place for the 22,800-hectare fire between Forcett and the Tasman Peninsula in the state's southwest.

Tasmania Fire Service acting station officer for state operations, Paul Symington, said advice alerts were in place for eight other fires with Forcett the major concern on Thursday.