Kate Middleton

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pledged the sum for the Rhyl Flood Appeal which was left badly damaged by December's freak waves

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Prince William and Kate have forked out £5,000 from their own pocket to help residents of a Welsh town hit by recent floods.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pledged the sum for the Rhyl Flood Appeal which was left badly damaged by December's freak waves.

The North Wales town stands 44 miles from where the royal couple used to live during their time on Anglesey, where William worked as an RAF pilot.

The letter sent to the town's mayor from Kensington Palace says: "The Duke and Duchess realise that it is a long, slow and painful process for the many people displaced from their homes.

"As as a token of their support, and to show the people of Rhyl that they are in their thoughts, Their Royal Highnesses would like to make a personal donation to your Rhyl Town Mayor's Flood Appeal."

More than 130 flood-stricken residents saw their homes devastated when waves smashed through sea defences.

The unexpected donation boosts the fund to £50k, which will be used towards helping families piece their lives back together.

Tonight, Rhyl Mayor, Andy Rutherford said: "I was gobsmacked when the letter arrived but it goes to show that when you keep the awareness of an issue, things can, and do, happen.

"I am delighted that the royal couple have taken the time to recognise that Rhyl was affected in the flooding and demonstrates their affiliation to places on the North Wales Coast.

"It was a lovely and welcome surprise."

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