The Duchess of Cambridge doesn’t have many “favorite” patronages. Well, she doesn’t have many patronages at all, but there aren’t many she visits consistently. She’s a fan of the National Portrait Gallery, of course, and she’s probably done the most work with them in recent years. One of Kate’s first patronages was EACH, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. She averages maybe two visits or events with EACH every year. Incidentially, the photos we always use of Kate and William with Rose Hanbury? Those are from an EACH benefit hosted by Rose and her husband at Houghton Hall. Yes, Rose is very involved with EACH too. Just FYI.
Anyway, I looked it up and the last time Kate did anything with or for EACH was literally one year ago exactly. Yes, it’s time for the annual Children’s Hospice Week. Last year, Kate went tan and maskless to a hospice, planted a tree and breathed on sick kids. What’s in store for us this year? Well, it looks like EACH is going to have to make due with Kate…um, writing a letter of support.
Kate Middleton and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall are raising awareness for Children’s Hospice Week following an “especially tough and frightening” year for families with vulnerable kids.
Kate, the royal patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), asked everyone to join her “in thanking the U.K.’s 54 children’s hospices and their incredible staff for the life-changing care they provide” in a letter to mark the week.
“The last year has been a difficult one for everyone, and especially tough and frightening for families with seriously ill children,” she said. “Many started shielding long before others, worrying about the pandemic and what it might mean for their child.”
The theme for this year’s Children’s Hospice Week is “Pushed to the Limits,” recognizing how hard the past year has been for these families.
“Children’s hospices are a lifeline, and I have been privileged to see first-hand the remarkable work they do,” Kate, 39, continued. “They give families the care and time they need to make treasured lifelong memories – the chance to be parents, not carers. Vitally, they are also there when it is time to say goodbye, making sure a family has privacy and dignity so they can grieve together, and are able to receive support for as long as they need it.”
You can read Kate’s letter here at EACH. They just posted a copy of the letter with the Kensington Palace letterhead, and Kate’s signature. I’d be willing to bet that staffers wrote the letter and Kate signed it. That counts as an event, right?
Anyway, just pointing out that Kate really does so little for or with her existing patronages, yet she has all the time in the world to create the Keen Buttons and Early Years Research Institute, where she will be keen, drown herself in buttons and “research” child development. Until she gets bored, I guess. I also wonder what happened to Heads Together and how the Cambridges schemed to put all of their existing patronages in one place so they could presumably do less work? Whatever happened to that?
Our Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, has marked the start of #ChildrensHospiceWeek by sending a personal message of support to celebrate the vital work we do for children and families.
Read the full message here: https://t.co/JwGbMb68kI@KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/ALaIOARIHm— EACH (@EACH_hospices) June 21, 2021
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, KP social media.
