'MOVED BEYOND WORDS' PRINCE CHARLES SPEAKS OUT AFTER TEEN DIES WHEN SHE ATE PRET SANDWICH

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, died after eating a baguette from Pret a Manger before boarding a plane to France in 2016. Following her death, Natasha's parents Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, set up the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation which aims to eradicate allergies.

Prince Charles attended a two-day conference organised by the charity at Dumfries House in Cumnock.

The Global Allergy Symposium saw 16 leading allergy experts from the UK, United States, Hong Kong, Finland, Germany and Denmark discuss major risk factors for emerging allergies such as biodiversity loss and climate change.

His Royal Highness met with Natasha's parents on Wednesday at the conference and said that he was "moved beyond words".

Prince Charles said: "I was moved beyond words by the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse and the way her parents have selflessly dedicated themselves to preventing other families from suffering in the same way.

"That is why my Prince's Foundation is hosting leading scientists and experts in the field to tackle the environmental causes of allergic disease so that no more lives are needlessly lost due to allergic reactions."

Natasha died on July 17 after eating an olive and tapenade baguette at Heathrow Airport.

Following her death, the coroner reported that Natasha would not have eaten the baguette if the label had included that it contains sesame seeds, which she was extremely allergic to.

Charles has been tackling this issue since the inquest into Natasha's death in 2018, when he first mentioned the idea of a symposium of the world's leading allergy and environment experts.

The inquest stressed the growing epidemic of people becoming allergic, especially among children and young people.

Speaking at the conference on Wednesday, His Royal Highness said: "Would there be any added value to having a partnership with what you're trying to do, my Foundation and your efforts on allergies, because it fits with so many things I've tried to do and the messages I want to get across."

After the symposium, Natasha's parents praised Charles for his support and heralded his offer of support as a "game-changer".

They said: "We are absolutely thrilled that His Royal Highness has pledged the support of his Prince's Foundation to tackle the allergy epidemic.

"It will be a game-changer for the one-in-three people in this country with an allergy.

"We were deeply moved by his personal interest in what is driving the allergy epidemic and how he can help us take steps to turn the tide."

2022-09-07T23:31:44Z dg43tfdfdgfd