Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, 39, and Prince William, 39, spoke out on Friday in reaction to the devastating floods to have hit parts of Europe in recent days. The royal couple shared the moving statement on Twitter and said they were thinking of all those affected.

Kensington Palace tweeted: “The damage and loss caused by the flooding disaster in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands is devastating.

“We are thinking of all those affected by these floods.”

After days of heavy rain, 103 people have died in Germany alone, the largest number killed in a natural disaster in the country in almost 60 years.

They included 12 residents of a home for disabled people surprised by the floods during the night.