The Duchess of Cambridge was in Norfolk today to officially open the Nook, a children’s hospice within her capacity as patron of East Anglia Children’s Hospices (EACH). This project has been in the works for years, with Kate having helped the organization launch its initial appeal for financing way back in November 2014. Since then, she’s carried out a series of supportive engagements that have helped raise awareness.
This project always sticks out in my mind because of a visit she made in January 2017 that just so happened to fall right after I started this website and was still very new to covering her public appearances, so it’s nice to see another milestone checked off.
Today Kate met with families and patients who are taking advantage of the facility, some of whom she’s now visited with on multiple occasions. News articles note that Kate remembered many of the parents, inquiring after their children and seeing how they were getting on.
She also made a quick speech:
‘It is wonderful to be here today to open The Nook Hospice. And a huge congratulations to everyone here involved.
The Nook is a realisation of a vision that began five years ago. Thanks to immense generosity and support from all those who contributed to the Appeal, this state-of-the-art facility is fully operational and already making such a difference.
At the opening of the Treehouse Hospice many years ago (which I think I will remember for some years to come as it was my first ever speech!), I referred to your hospices as being homes. This visit today has only reinforced for me just what is at the heart of what you do here, throughout your work, and that is family.
You have created here at The Nook a nurturing, caring environment that allows families who are going through the unimaginable the ability to spend precious quality time with each other, comforted in the knowledge that their children are being looked after in the best possible way.
EACH was one of the very first charities that I decided to become Patron of after my marriage. Whilst a lot has changed since then, my commitment and support for this wonderful organisation and the work that you do has not.
Over the years, I have seen first-hand the depth of EACH’s reputation as a standard-bearer in children’s hospice care, both here in the U.K. and internationally too, during my visits to Malaysia and Australia.
Your hugely dedicated and talented team are at the core of this success and I wanted especially today to thank you, Graham, for everything you have done over the past sixteen years and to wish you a very happy retirement.
The Nook Hospice is a fitting tribute to all your staff, its generous supporters and its awe-inspiring children and families who I have been so lucky to meet here today. I therefore could not be more delighted to invite my army of little helpers to join me in officially opening this new hospice.’
For the occasion, Kate three-peated her fuchsia Oscar de la Renta skirt suit. She first debuted this look in February 2017, and recycled it earlier this year for a visit to the Royal Opera House, so it’s quickly becoming a bit of a winter mainstay for the Duchess’s winter closet.
I’ve never been a huge fan of this suit, but it’s grown on me a bit since its debut. I do think it could be improved with an updo and by ditching the stockings, but Kate seems to lean on it for standard engagements, so it’s unlikely we’ll see her dress it up that way. In any event, it’s a nice pop of color and after several new looks, we were certainly due a recycle.
We’ll next see Kate on Monday evening for the Royal Variety Show, and in the meantime, Season 3 of The Crown will hit Netflix Saturday at midnight (…or Sunday, as the case may be). My plan is to get at least the first episode recap up on Sunday, but the majority will likely fall next week as I tick my way through. I also have a post scheduled for Saturday that catches everyone up on Season 2 and where we are with everything, so keep an eye out 🙂