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Prince William has met with refugees from Ukraine on his second day of a surprise trip to Poland, a country providing immense support to its war-torn neighbour.
- William paid tribute to the generosity of Poland
- He thanked troops for "fighting for our freedom"
- Poland is a major hub of support to Ukraine
The Prince of Wales visited a food hall in Warsaw where some refugees had found work, as well as a housing block sheltering some 300 young children and mothers who had sought refuge there after fleeing Ukraine.
He listened to stories of escape and loss, but also of new hope, and raised spirits with a game of table tennis.
The trip also consisted of a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a monument dedicated to Polish soldiers who lost their lives in conflict.
Prince William laid a wreath in Poland's national colours of white and red at the foot of the monument, and attached a handwritten note paying tribute to those "who made the ultimate sacrifice".
The Prince's late grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, also laid a wreath there during their state visit in 1996.
The heir to the throne then headed to the presidential palace for a meeting with President Andrzej Duda, who has been a prominent ally of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago.
Mr Duda's office said their talks focused on humanitarian aid for Ukraine and that the Prince had thanked the Polish people for their generosity and hospitality.
"The Prince of Wales took the opportunity to thank the president and the Polish people who have done so much to support the people of Ukraine who have fled here," a spokesperson for the Prince said.
The day prior, Prince William had met with British soldiers training with the Polish defence force in Rzeszow, a city in south-eastern Poland that has become a major port for shipments of military and humanitarian aid bound for Ukraine.
“I just wanted to come here in person to say thank you for all that you’re doing, keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on what’s going on,″ Prince William said as he spoke to the troops.
"You're doing a really important job out here and defending our freedoms is really important, and everyone back home thoroughly supports you," he said.
Poland is currently home to over a million refugees from neighbouring Ukraine, and has been widely praised for its help for those fleeing the conflict.
ABC/wires