Kate named children’s hospice patron on Wales visit

Catherine, Princess of Wales has been named patron of a children’s hospice on a visit to south Wales.

She visited Tŷ Hafan in Sully, Vale of Glamorgan, to meet children with life-shortening conditions and their families.

The princess has followed in the footsteps of Diana, Princess of Wales and the King to become the figurehead of the organisation.

Kensington Palace said she was looking forward to building a close relationship with the hospice and those it serves.

One of the families that have been supported by the charity is Emily and James Taylor.

The couple spent two weeks at the Tŷ Hafan hospice with their daughter Violet before she sadly passed away.

Ms Taylor said the charity is a “safety net” for them and “did so much for Violet”.

“‘They are amazing. I know they are going to be there for us for life.”

Mrs and Mr Taylor were invited to meet the Princess of Wales on Thursday to share their story on how Tŷ Hafan has helped them.

She said the day was “so special” and she feels privileged to be able to represent all the families that use the charity’s services.

“We are just one of the hundreds of families that Tŷ Hafan has supported, so to have someone like the Princess of Wales come here and be able to talk to her about our daughter it feels very profound and I think it’s a day we are going to remember forever.”

Irfon Rees, the charity’s chief executive said: “We are deeply honoured that Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has become patron of Tŷ Hafan.

“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,” he added.

Thursday’s unannounced trip is the Princess of Wales’ second this week as she continues to make a phased return to royal duties after completing a bout of chemotherapy last summer.

Catherine made a surprise appearance at official commemorations, also attended by the Prince of Wales, marking Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday.

Later on Thursday on another engagement in south Wales, in a highly unusual move, the princess pulled over her convoy to stop and speak to a young child as she left.

Kate visited the Welsh knitwear and sock manufacturer Corgi in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, and shortly after setting off, she stopped her car to speak to a small girl.

Lily-Rose, aged three, had been calling out “hello princess” as the royal left the Corgi factory, and as Kate approached, the young girl handed her a yellow toy banana.

Kate said: “I heard you say ‘hello’ from all the way back there and I wanted to come and see you.”

Stacey Chorley, 39, Lily-Rose’s mum, said: “It was so exciting, we had no idea that was going to happen.

“I hope this is one of the things Lily-Rose will remember. Kate was so lovely, she’s very natural and down to earth.”

As Kate handed Lily-Rose back her banana the young girl threw it on the floor and the princess had to bend down to retrieve it.

The flurry of royal engagements this week is not thought to indicate that the princess is fully back to work but continuing her gradual resumption of official duties.

Kensington Palace said the first patronage Catherine took on after becoming a Member of The Royal Family was EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice) and she maintained a close relationship with the organisation.

The hospice was founded in 1999 by Suzanne Goodall, after a fundraising campaign lasting more than a decade, when she discovered there was no children’s hospice in Wales.

Tŷ Hafan – which is Welsh for Haven House – provides free care and support to children with life-shortening conditions and their families, both within the hospice and in homes and communities in Wales.

Diana was patron during the fundraising phase and Charles first took up the role in 2001 when he was Prince of Wales.