The Princess of Wales praised a ‘brilliant’ teenager with a rare condition who serenaded her with an Ed Sheeran song during a visit to a children’s hospice.
Kate, who is the patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (Each), spent nearly an hour talking to children and families who are receiving care during an emotional visit to The Treehouse hospice in Ipswich today.
The unit provides short breaks and palliative support for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and bereavement support for families. During her visit today, the princess, who previously opened the hospice in March 2012, toured its music therapy room and a sensory room with special lighting, a water bed and a projector.
She also visited the hospice’s joint charity shop and cafe nearby, where she revealed she had been missing eldest son Prince George, who started at boarding school last month, but starts his half-term holiday tomorrow.
Among those the princess met at the Treehouse was 13-year-old Charlotte Freegard, who has a rare genetic muscle disorder called nemaline myopathy.
Kate sat with Charlotte at the piano as the youngster sang the Ed Sheeran hit Perfect, with the princess breaking out in a round of applause and telling her she was ‘brilliant’ after her performance. The princess told her: “Charlotte, that was beautifully sung. Well done, you.”
Kate said it was good for the children to have so much musical equipment and asked Charlotte: “You’re able to express yourself and really enjoy yourself?” to which the girl replied: “Definitely.”
The future queen also met four-year-old Primrose Harvey, who has a rare congenital heart defect called hypoplastic right-heart syndrome, and her parents who regularly bring her to The Treehouse.
The little girl’s mother, Katie, told the princess that Primrose has had three heart surgeries, including one at six days old and another only two weeks ago. Kate told Primrose’s mother: “Super brave girl and brave parents too.”
Mrs Harvey said it was “lovely” to speak to the Princess of Wales about her daughter and the support they receive.
She said: “It was really lovely just to talk about, you know, how amazing Each is for us as a family. It’s really nice for her to come here and see first-hand how much they do for families.”
Meanwhile, Freddie Ormrod, 11, who has the mitochondrial genetic disorder Leigh syndrome, which causes epileptic seizures and profound physical disability, played chimes and a tambourine during Kate’s visit.
Freddie’s father, James, jokingly told the princess there was only so long he could listen to the chimes, to which she replied: “It is noisy. Often in our household, the noisier the instrument the better.”
Earlier, the princess, who was wearing a dark green blazer and trousers, donned a white hard hat and orange hi-vis vest to visit a construction site where the hospice is being expanded, including a new hydrotherapy pool, a wellbeing and therapies suite, and a new bedroom that will be completed in 2028.
She also spent a while speaking to a group for bereaved families who told her about the importance of having someone to talk to after losing a child.
Sam Morley, who has been attending the bereavement group since her 17-year-old son Euan, who had a degenerative neurological condition, died two years ago, said Kate was “very interested and very empathetic”.
Ms Morley added: “She was asking a lot about the bereavement support for not only us but other siblings and things like that.” She said Euan “loved” coming to The Treehouse hospice, and said: “He absolutely loved music. That was our big thing.”
Afterwards, Kate headed to the hospice’s joint charity shop and cafe in a small village in Norfolk, where she was asked how her children were getting on and helped sort donations to the store.
Denise Ashton, 68, who was sat with two friends when the princess came over for a chat, said: “She said she’s looking forward to George coming home – she’s missed him.” She added: “They may be going somewhere (during the break).”
The young prince started boarding at Eton College last month and will return home for his first “long leave” on Friday. Younger siblings, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, also break up from Lambrook School tomorrow for a two-week half term.
While chatting to locals who had gathered outside the shop after word quickly spread of the royal visit, the princess asked children if they were on half term.
One youngster told her that it’s his last day today, and she replied: “My children break up tomorrow and I can’t wait to have them all home.”
The princess’ visit to Café 98 in Hoveton, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ first and only café located within one of the charity’s retail stores, was kept under wraps due to the café’s small size.
And when she walked in, locals enjoying a cup of tea and browsing the rails couldn’t believe the future Queen had stopped by.
As she headed over to the counter to greet catering Manager Morgan Neary, a group of ladies called her over asking: “Do you want to see our shopping?” “Oh yes please,” Catherine said, darting over to them. “Do you come in here quite a bit?”
Essie Landsborough, 75, who sat opposite Ms Ashton, said “yes” as she rifled through her carrier bag and pulled out a box of two port sippers.
Looking at the boxes, Catherine said: “You never know what you’re going to find [in a charity shop]. That’s what’s so nice. If feels a bit more like a treasure hunt.”
Interrupting with a tone of surprise, Ms Landsborough said: “Do you go to charity shops?” “Yes I do,” the princess said. “I love going round a charity shop. When I was up at university in St Andrews there were a lot of charity shops.”
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