KATE Middleton and Prince William praised NHS heroes today as they attended a tea party honouring the health service’s 72nd birthday. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sat down with frontline workers at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, close to their home at Anmer Hall. The couple, both 38, arrived by car and […]
KATE Middleton and Prince William praised NHS heroes today as they attended a tea party honouring the health service’s 72nd birthday.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sat down with frontline workers at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, close to their home at Anmer Hall.
The couple, both 38, arrived by car and raised a toast to the staff at the hospital, which was also celebrating its 40th birthday.
Kate and Prince William both wore blue for the event – the colour synonymous with the NHS – with the Duchess wowing in a £525 long-sleeved frock with a white collar, by designer Shalini.
The Cambridge’s met with staff and volunteers at their first joint engagement since lockdown, including nurse Suzie Vaughan, 43, whose video reuniting with her daughters went viral last month.
Suzie spent nine weeks away from her little girls, Hettie, seven, and Bella, nine, as she worked as an operating department practitioner.
The youngsters were delighted to meet with the Duchess, with Suzie saying: “They both always wanted to meet a real life princess.”
The parents-of-three sanitised their hands before chatting with Suzie and her children, as she described what it was like being away from her girls for two months.
Chatting to Hettie and Bella, Kate said: “It is a real treat to meet you both.
“Did you miss your mum?”
And praising Suzie, the mum-of-three said: “You did a really good job.
“It’s amazing how everybody pulled together.”
Hettie and Bella’s outfits went down a treat with the Cambridge’s, with Kate telling them, “you girls look really pretty,” while Prince William added “I love your dresses”.
Suzie told Kate how her daughters took part in the weekly clap, with a palace spokesperson confirming the Cambridge’s privately took part in the 5pm Clap for Carers earlier today.
Prince William told Suzie, and chief nurse Libby McManus: “Everyone appreciated what you do. The NHS is a fantastic organisation.”
The pair also chatted with nurse Sam Jude, 30, who caught coronavirus in May, as they mingled with partygoers at the event, which featured a marquee and balloons.
They were also gifted knitted keyrings, made by staff, featuring nurses wearing facemasks, with William aying: “The children will love them.”
When asking the staff how they coped with anxiety during the pandemic, they replied there were a few “wobbly-moments”, which Prince William added was “a good way of describing it.”
The hospital, which has treated 450 Covid-19 patients, is celebrating its own birthday later this month.
And Kate Middleton brought ‘huge delivery’ of plants for critically ill children at first public event post-lockdown.
We previously shared how Kate gave a glimpse of Anmer Hall grandeur as she praises Brits for ‘pulling together during the pandemic’.
