The Princess of Wales has marked Addiction Awareness Week today by visiting Southend Treatment and Recovery Service that supports people recovering from addiction
The Princess of Wales showed off her green-fingered side today as she met people recovering from addiction.
Kate marked Addiction Awareness Week, which began on Saturday and runs until Friday, by visiting a garden in Garon Park in Southend, Essex. She is the patron of The Forward Trust, a charity that supports recovering addicts and is behind the week-long campaign.
Today, she visited the charity’s new initiative at the sports park, called Forward Growing. At the green space in the north east of the city, people on the Forward Trust’s treatment and recovery service in the area are encouraged to engage with the natural world.
The princess was shown the Forward Trust’s garden, where service users have a go at gardening to help them in their recovery.
Liam King, who leads conservation at the park, told Kate about the plants being grown.
Kate admitted: “I should have my husband here, he knows a lot (about gardening), he’s really passionate.” She described the planting area at Garon Park as a “fantastic space” as she chatted with people in recovery.
When asked by Mr King if she does any gardening, the princess said “a little bit”.
It is hoped Kate’s visit will reinforce the message at the heart of The Big Addiction Conversation: that recovery is possible, help is available, and that through kindness, understanding and community support, people affected by addiction can be empowered to realise a more positive future.
Addiction Awareness Week has been running since 2021, and last year, Kate wrote an emotional message asking people to have “love and compassion” for those battling addiction.
She said: “Recovery is hard, but with the right treatment it is possible. And this begins with a conversation, a listening ear and showing we care.
“So please join the conversation. By talking about it in the open, together we can bring addiction and the harm it causes out of the shadows.’
She added: “We can reframe this issue with kindness and understanding, and we can help individuals and families coping with addiction know they are not alone.”
Kate’s visit to Southend comes just days after she and Prince William mingled with Hollywood royalty at the world premiere of Tom Cruise’s new film Digger.
Kate wore a purple, floor-sweeping, Jenny Packham dress accessorised with Diana, Princess of Wales’s earrings and the Queen Mother’s amethyst sautoir necklace.
The film was shown at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square theatre, central London, to raise funds for The Film and TV Charity, which works to create healthier and more supportive working environments.
Cruise was also spotted holding Kate’s hand and helping her down the stairs on their way to the screen. William and Kate briefly paused for pictures with the Beckhams before heading in to the screening.
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