Something borrowed, something blue: Duchess of Cambridge wears mother's Reiss dress for first public address as Royal patron of children's hospices charity
By Rebecca English|
The Duchess of Cambridge looked calm and confident as she gave her first public address today.
And instead of buying a new dress for the landmark occasion, Kate chose to raid her mother's wardrobe instead.
The 30-year-old arrived at The Treehouse children's hospice in Ipswich, Suffolk, wearing a blue dress from Reiss - the same one Carole Middleton wore to Ascot in 2010.
The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the Treehouse children's hospice in Ipswich, Suffolk
Kate borrowed the Reiss dress from her mother, who wore it to Ascot in 2010...the pair both accessorised with a black belt and court shoes
The Treehouse is run by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and supports children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
The Duchess is royal patron of the charity which provides care and support wherever the family wishes - in their own home, in the community or at one of their three hospices in Ipswich, Milton and Quidenham.
The range of support includes short break care, specialist play activities, music therapy, hydrotherapy and parent groups as well as vital end of life care and bereavement support for all family members.
On her arrival the Duchess was greeted by 600 flag waving supporters and given a tour of the hospice, meeting children and their families who use the hospice’s facilities, including a sensory room and music room.
Royal sources said the Duchess was responsible for writing her own speech and said it was in 'a very different style' from those of her husband, Prince William
Kate three-minute speech was faultless - made with a slow but measured delivery. Aides stressed that she had written it herself so it was very much from the heart. Her cut glass tone was eminently royal.
She also met staff and supporters and was given a private tour of the bedroom and care areas.
A three-year-old broke the ice with Kate when she walked up her and declared : 'Hello Princess Kate, can you paint with me?'
Marnie Jennings had already met the Duchess when she joined a group of siblings taking part in a crafts session at the hospice.
But not content with her own chat with the Duchess, a few minutes later Marnie decided to muscle in on the action when the Duchess was painting a ceramic butterfly with her elder sister Brooke, 12, and another girl.
She also met staff and supporters and was given a private tour of the bedroom and care areas.
A three-year-old broke the ice with Kate when she walked up her and declared : 'Hello Princess Kate, can you paint with me?'
Marnie Jennings had already met the Duchess when she joined a group of siblings taking part in a crafts session at the hospice.
But not content with her own chat with the Duchess, a few minutes later Marnie decided to muscle in on the action when the Duchess was painting a ceramic butterfly with her elder sister Brooke, 12, and another girl.
On her arrival the Duchess was greeted by 600 flag waving supporters and given a tour of the hospice
The Duchess, greeting dignitaries, is royal patron of the charity which provides care and support wherever the family wishes
KATE'S SPEECH IN FULL
First of all, I'd like to say thank you. Thank you for not only accepting me as your Patron but thank you also for inviting me here today.
You have all made me feel so welcome and I feel hugely honoured to be here to see this wonderful centre.
I am only sorry that William can't be here today; he would love it here. A view of his - that I share - is that through teamwork, so much can be achieved.
What you have all achieved here is extraordinary.
You as a community have built the Treehouse; a group of people who have made every effort to support and help each other.
When I first visited the Hospice in Milton, I had a pre-conceived idea as to what to expect. Far from being a clinical, depressing place for sick children, it was a home. Most importantly, it was a family home, a happy place of stability, support and care. It was a place of fun.
Today I have seen again that the Treehouse is all about family and fun. For many, this is a home from home - a lifeline, enabling families to live as normally as possible, during a very precious period of time.
What you do is inspirational, it is a shining example of the support and the care that is delivered, not just here, but in the children's hospice movement at large, up and down the country.
The feelings you inspire - feelings of love and of hope - offer a chance to families to live a life they never thought could be possible.
So thank you again for inviting me here today. I feel enormously proud to be part of East Anglia's Children's Hospices and to see the wonderful life-changing work that you do. Thank you.
You have all made me feel so welcome and I feel hugely honoured to be here to see this wonderful centre.
I am only sorry that William can't be here today; he would love it here. A view of his - that I share - is that through teamwork, so much can be achieved.
What you have all achieved here is extraordinary.
You as a community have built the Treehouse; a group of people who have made every effort to support and help each other.
When I first visited the Hospice in Milton, I had a pre-conceived idea as to what to expect. Far from being a clinical, depressing place for sick children, it was a home. Most importantly, it was a family home, a happy place of stability, support and care. It was a place of fun.
Today I have seen again that the Treehouse is all about family and fun. For many, this is a home from home - a lifeline, enabling families to live as normally as possible, during a very precious period of time.
What you do is inspirational, it is a shining example of the support and the care that is delivered, not just here, but in the children's hospice movement at large, up and down the country.
The feelings you inspire - feelings of love and of hope - offer a chance to families to live a life they never thought could be possible.
So thank you again for inviting me here today. I feel enormously proud to be part of East Anglia's Children's Hospices and to see the wonderful life-changing work that you do. Thank you.
The girls’s sister is Tilly Jennings, six, who has been coming to the hospice since she was three months old [in your press pack].
Mrs Jennings said: “Tilly started to get jealous and got up and went over as well. I think she thought Marnie was stealing her thunder.
“I thought ‘Oh no, if anyone was going to disgrace me it was my three-year-old.’ But Kate laughed. It broke the ice – nobody seemed quite so nervous
then. She was very friendly and approachable.'
Brooke said: 'I was cringeing a bit. She was going, "Princess Kate, let me do it for you. Look what I’m doing!" She said, "Oh OK,’ and let Marnie take over.
I was going, "Marnie, leave Kate alone." But then it was, "Oh well." She seemed very calm and cool and relaxed. She seemed to take it all in her stride. She was very nice and really pretty, and seemed really caring.'
Mrs Jennings said: 'Meetings a member of the Royal Family has been one of Tilly’s dreams. She has been so excited. This has meant her dream coming true.
'She has been carrying around Kate’s picture around with her ever since she knew she was going to meet her.'
Following the tour, The Duchess was invited to address the assembled guests - before planting a commemorative tree in the grounds of The Treehouse, another royal first for her in the UK.
Royal sources said the Duchess was responsible for writing her own speech and said it was in 'a very different style' from those of her husband, Prince William.
In a foreword to a brochure produced by the charity for the occasion, Kate wrote:'it is a tremendous privilege to be Royal Patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices, and I feel truly honoured to be involved with this organisation. EACH is a world leader in the way it cares for children with life-threatening conditions and their families, and is at the very forefront of children's palliative care.
'I have been deeply moved by the work of EACH's dedicated staff - and by the environment of support for families. For me, EACH provides services which demand an unerring and passionate level of understanding, knowledge and sensitivity. I am extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity to be Royal Patron and I strongly encourage you to continue to support EACH's invaluable work.'
The Treehouse has revolutionised children's hospice care in the East of England and the £3 million cost of building the centre was raised in just 12 months.
The Duchess became Royal Patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices in January 2012.
Chief executive Graham Butland said:'The Duchess's visit will showcase the magnificent facilities we can now offer to life-threatened children and their families.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2117068/Duchess-Cambridge-cool-blue-public-address-Royal-patron-childrens-hospices-charity.html#ixzz1pZ4ByaWk
