Queen Elizabeth Donates To Quake Areas

By NewsCore

LONDON -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will donate some of her own money to the victims of the earthquake disasters in northeast Japan and New Zealand, Buckingham Palace said Friday.

The amount of the donations was not disclosed.

"The Queen will be making a personal donation to both the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal in New Zealand and the Japanese disaster fund," said the one-line statement from the palace.

Elizabeth's grandson, Prince William urged New Zealanders to "stay strong" as he attended a memorial service Friday for those killed in the Christchurch earthquake, the country's most deadly disaster for 80 years.

The 28-year-old, representing the Queen on a brief tour of New Zealand and Australia, passed on words of wisdom from his grandmother.

"My grandmother once said that, 'Grief is the price we pay for love,'" he said. "Here today we love and we grieve."

In making a personal donation to Japan, the British monarch joins Hollywood and sporting royalty who have opened their wallets to those affected by the disaster. Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki will donate $1.23 million ($100 million yen) to the Japanese Red Cross, while "The Blind Side" star Sandra Bullock gave $1 million of her own money.

Other celebrities who have stepped in to help Japan include Lady Gaga who raised $250,000 in 48 hours by selling red and white wristbands bearing the message "We Pray for Japan" for $5 a piece via her merchandise website.

Rock band Linkin Park also began selling T-shirts, designed by band member Mike Shinoda, whose father is Japanese-American, to raise money for Japan's victims.