Kate Middleton’s touching tribute to murdered woman Sarah Everard

The Duchess of Cambridge paid her respects to Sarah Everard, as four arrests were made at vigils for the 33yo allegedly murdered by a cop.

Kate Middleton has paid tribute to Sarah Everard today at Clapham Common as she “remembers what it’s like to walk in London alone.”

The Duchess of Cambridge was among tearful mourners who gathered at the spot the 33-year-old was last seen as vigils were cancelled across the UK.

A Palace source said today: “The Duchess wanted to pay her respects to Sarah and her family.

“She remembers what it felt like to walk around London at night before she got married.”

Kate, 38, attended the site in Clapham Common on a private visit without any obvious security and laid flowers from the garden at Kensington, it’s understood.

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It’s been reported the Duchess laid a bouquet of daffodils picked from the garden at Kensington Palace. Picture: Twitter @SkyNewsIsabel.

While she did not wear a mask, the royal was among many socially-distanced mourners who also appeared to pay their respects. Picture: Twitter @SkyNewsIsabel.

A further 31 vigils for Sarah Everard were also due to take place at 6pm in cities across the UK – including Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Belfast and Cardiff.

But the Met Police moved to ban the event due to COVID restrictions with other forces following suit.

Campaign group Reclaim These Streets mounted a High Court challenge on Thursday but a judge upheld the police’s decision to block the event – forcing organisers to cancel vigils across the UK.

Sarah Everard went missing in south London on the night of March 3, and her remains were found nine days later. Picture: METROPOLITAN POLICE / AFP.

Despite the ban, a small, socially-distanced group lay flowers at the bandstand in Clapham Common this afternoon in moving scenes.

Some mourners were seen in tears as they gathered to pay tribute to the marketing manager, who vanished on March 3.

This comes as police were made four arrests after officers violently clashed with largely female crowds at Clapham during a vigil for Sarah on Friday night. Their actions earnt them heavy criticism on social media, with footage of the event being deemed as “disgraceful” and “despicable”.

March 2021. A woman is arrested by the Metropolitan Police for holding a peaceful vigil in memory of a woman suspected to have been murdered by a member of the Metropolitan Police. This is more wrong than I can possibly express. pic.twitter.com/uPVNcLmvRr

— Sarah Olney (@sarahjolney1) March 13, 2021

Women being snatched by police at the vigil for Sarah Everard. Shameful, shameful scenes. pic.twitter.com/fyUqcfCyug

— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) March 13, 2021

If @metpoliceuk had cooperated with @ReclaimTS who went to every effort to hold a safe, stewarded vigil for Sarah, none of this would have happened. Surely they knew this?

Instead police turned up and attacked women. Disgraceful. #ReclaimTheseStreetspic.twitter.com/EV5QN7iJIL

— Anna Phillips (@annaphillips_) March 13, 2021

This prompted a statement from Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball, who said the events posed a "very real risk of easily transmitting COVID-19,” which required the police to accordingly.

“Police must act for people’s safety, this is the only responsible thing to do. The pandemic is not over and gatherings of people from right across London and beyond, are still not safe.”

Desribing the events of the night, Ms Ball said that the vigil attracted a growing number of people, which required police to step in to end the event.

”Regrettably, a small minority of people began chanting at officers, pushing and throwing items,” continued. “Four arrests have been made for public order offences and for breaches of the Health Protection Regulations.”

She also specified that she “accepted that the actions of our officers have been questioned” and that their actions will be reviewed to see “if there are lessons that can be learnt”.

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This comes as Sarah’s remains were found in a woodland area a week after she went missing as she walked home from visiting a friend in Clapham. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images.

There was also police present in London as people paid their respects, as her alleged killer Wayne Couzens appeared in court.

The 33-year-old’s remains were found on March 11 – nine days after her disappearance as she walked back to her Brixton home from a friend’s house in Clapham, South London.

At about 9pm she left the property in Leathwaite Road through a back gate onto the A205 South Circular and began walking to her home in Brixton.

She is thought to have walked across Clapham Common.

The vigils come after Reclaim the Streets slammed the police after revealing they were threatened with a £10,000 ($AU17,928) fine under COVID laws if the events went ahead.

A fundraising page they launched has already raised more than £240,000 ($AU430,293) for women’s charities.

The Met Police today said they took “no joy” in cancelling the events but insisted it was the “right thing to do”.

Greater Manchester Police said they were “shocked and saddened” about Sarah’s death but warned “gathering in large groups is still unlawful”.

Merseyside Police thanked organisers for postponing a vigil due to be held in Liverpool city centre tonight.

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London police officers reportedly made several arrests at vigils for Sarah, with thousands attending. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images.

In a tweet, the force said: “We would like to thank the organisers of the Reclaim These Streets vigil for postponing their event until a time when it is safe and legal to do so without fear of attributing to potential spread of the coronavirus.”

Sarah’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the public, with many women and girls sharing stories online of experiencing violence by men.

Sarah’s family on Thursday paid tribute to their “bright and beautiful daughter and sister”.

In a statement, Sarah’s family said: “Our beautiful daughter Sarah was taken from us and we are appealing for any information that will help to solve this terrible crime.

“Sarah was bright and beautiful – a wonderful daughter and sister. She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.

“She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all. We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives.

“We would like to thank our friends and family for all their support during this awful time and we would especially like to thank Sarah’s friends who are working tirelessly to help.”

Meanwhile, Wayne Couzens, 48, today appeared in court charged on suspicion of her murder and kidnap.

Couzens was charged on Friday with Sarah’s kidnap and murder after she vanished while walking home last Wednesday. Source: Supplied

Speaking to reporters outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said Met Police were determined to get justice for Sarah after finding the body hidden in woodlands in Ashford, Kent.

He said this week: “As you know, on Wednesday evening detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard discovered a body secreted in woodland in Kent.

“The body has now been recovered and formal identification procedure has now been undertaken. I can now confirm that it is the body of Sarah Everard.”

He confirmed Sarah’s family had been given the “distressing” update.

The gun cop, who joined the Met Police in 2018, appeared in the dock in person at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Flanked by two police officers, Couzens sat with his head in his hands while wearing a grey jumper. He appeared to have a red wound on the top of his forehead.

This post originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission