Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska meets Princess of Wales

Grief drew them together.

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska and Princess of Wales Kate Middleton reportedly met Sunday in Buckingham Palace.

The high-profile introduction came a day before Queen Elizabeth II’s scheduled Monday funeral. Zelenska, wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, traveled to the UK to represent her war-torn country at the funeral procession amid its months-long war with Russia.

Photos posted to social media show Middleton and Zelenska both dressed in black and sitting face to face on gingham armchairs.

Another photo Sunday showed Zelenska, Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko and two others viewing the Queens’ coffin.

The somber pictures surfaced as King Charles III hosted a reception for dignitaries from around the world at the palace.

Last week Zelensky visited the British Embassy in Kyiv to pay tribute to the late Queen, including signing a condolence book, a photo posted on Twitter by the British ambassador to Ukraine showed.

“Deeply honoured that [Zelensky] signed our condolence book for #QueenElizabethII this morning. Grateful to the President for taking the time to do this given all else that is happening in [Ukraine] at this time,” Ambassador Melinda Simmons wrote.

Shortly after the Queen’s death, Zelensky tweeted: “It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“On behalf of the Ukrainian people, we extend sincere condolences to the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth over this irreparable loss.”