The Queen has praised the emergency services for their "unstinting relief efforts" tackling the recent floods which claimed at least six lives and caused widespread damage in parts of the country.
The Queen also expressed her sympathy for the thousands of people whose homes or livelihoods were affected by the downpours, in a statement released by Buckingham Palace.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will see at first hand the damage caused by the bad weather when they tour the country's worst-hit flood area on Friday.
The royal couple will visit Morpeth in Northumberland, where a month's rain fell in a single day, causing the local river to burst its banks on Saturday and engulf the historic market town.
In a message to the Lord-Lieutenants in areas affected by the flooding, the Queen said: "Please convey my sympathy to all those whose homes or livelihoods have been afflicted by the recent flooding and to all the families who have been displaced.
"My thoughts are especially with those affected communities still recovering from the damage of the floods in 2007.
"I have admired the unstinting relief efforts of the emergency services and local authorities, working in difficult conditions.
"Please extend my thanks to everyone assisting in these distressing circumstances, in particular to the many volunteers doing so much to help others."
