Kate Middleton follows in Diana’s footsteps with visit to children’s hospice
The Princess of Wales has followed in Princess Diana’s footsteps as she is named patron of a children’s hospice.
Kate Middleton met with children with life-shortening conditions and their families at the Ty Hafan children’s hospice in south Wales.
Irfon Rees, chief executive of Ty Hafan, based in the village of Sully near Cardiff, said: ‘We are deeply honoured that Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has become patron of Ty Hafan and it was an absolute pleasure to welcome Her Royal Highness to our hospice for the first time today.
‘As our patron, Her Royal Highness will be an inspiration for children with life-shortening conditions and their families, our dedicated staff and volunteers and everyone who so generously supports us.’
Mr Rees added: ‘No parent ever imagines that their child’s life will be short.
‘Sadly, this is the reality facing thousands of families in Wales. We can’t stop this happening, but together we can make sure that no-one lives their child’s short life alone.’
The hospice opened in 1999 and Diana was patron during the fundraising phase and King Charles took over in 2001.
Kate crouched down and chatted to Dani-Rae, aged three, who has spinal muscular atrophy and was dressed in pink and sat in a matching wheelchair.
She asked: ‘What do you like doing when you’re here, do you like music? Have you tried any of the instruments?’
Kate also chatted to parents and their children and said: ‘I know what a lifeline it is and makes a difference.’
Kensington Palace has arranged for a donation of musical instruments for the hospice and for future music therapy sessions.
Kate was also invited to make a handprint to be displayed with dozens of others – including one by Charles when he visited in 2018.
She was joined by Maggie, aged four, and her 12-year-old brother and as Kate painted her hand she asked: ‘Is this ticklish? My kiddies love this, I went and did this back at home with them today.’
It was then Kate’s turn and she got her fingers and palms painted by Lottie, aged 10.
Once it was done, Kate looked down and said ‘it’s huge’.
Kate later made another visit in south Wales celebrating excellence in the Welsh textiles manufacturing firm called Corgi.
The visit to the hospice is the second unannounced trip Kate has made this week as she returns to work slowly after she previously said her cancer is now in remission.
On Monday, she attended an event at the Guildhall in central London to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
Kate joined Prince William, who described their attendance as ‘a great honour’, on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
The annual event remembers the six million Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust, as well as the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.