On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had two royal engagements – both related to the British military to some degree. In the morning, William and Catherine met with British soldiers who re-enacted the Scott-Amundsen expedition to the North Pole. Later in the day, they were at a reception to help launch the Imperial War Museum Foundations’ First World War Galleries: Centenary Campaign.
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At Goldsmiths’ Hall in London, Their Royal Highnesses met with the soldiers and their families who completed the expedition back in January. William was the patron of their cause.
The expedition raised funds for the Royal British Legion’s £30 million commitment to help wounded, injured and sick British troops recover.
Robert Lee, a spokesman for the Legion, highlighted the importance of William supporting the expedition: “It was first of all really great for the personnel taking part in the race to know they had the Duke’s backing, it was a huge morale boost.
“The fact he’s here today with the Duchess of Cambridge is a great recognition of the contribution these Army personnel have made to the charity and a great boost to the fundraising effort.”
Although William and Catherine were mainly at this event to congratulate the troops, the media went wild when both took turns cooing over three-week-old Hugo Eric Scott, the son Sgt Paul ‘Vic’ Vicary who took part in trek. Ever since the couple married a year ago, the media has been waiting anxiously for a pregnancy announcement, and this little act fueled speculation that the Duke and Duchess may be planning for a child of their own soon.
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The couple’s next engagement received little fanfare, since there were no babies to hold and there was little glamor to it, as akin to a movie premiere. At the Imperial War Museum in London, the couple focused on drawing attention to create new First World War galleries for the centenary of the pinnacle war in 2014.
Prince William delivered a speech for the campaign, which he is patron of.
“Every exhibit, every display, every tank, aircraft and medal in its case, speaks to us of sacrifice, of the facing down of evil, of freedom bought and preserved – for us – at unimaginable cost in human lives and suffering.
“It’s a message of reflection and remembrance, but it is also one of pride. In the course of the 20th century our nation, with our stalwart friends and allies from the Commonwealth and elsewhere, safeguarded the freedom of the world. It is as simple as that.
“The Imperial War Museum is here to remind us of this unassailable truth.”
Sunday marks William and Catherine’s first wedding anniversary. They are said to planning a quiet, private celebration.
Making their first public appearance together he returned from the Falklands, Britain’s Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, stepped out to attend the premiere of the documentary “African Cats” which about lions and cheetahs. William is the patron of the conservation charity, Tusk Trust, which the premiere raised money for.
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The couple walked the red carpet amidst the drizzling rain. Catherine wore a pale gray peplum dress that is from the Matthew Williamson pre-fall 2012 collection.
Inside the British Film Institute, Their Royal Highnesses met with the film’s producers, and also 100 children involved with charities the two work with.
After watching the film, Prince William gave a speech about the need to protect wildlife.
“Films like “African Cats” remind us of the dramatic beauty, and the harshness, of the natural world – and there is nowhere more awe-inspiring or beautiful than the vast plains of Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Africa’s natural heritage is the world’s natural heritage. We have to preserve places like this – not just for us, but for future generations,” he said.
He pointed out that there’s only 25,000 lions in Africa – “50 per cent less than 20 years ago,” he said – and about 12,000 cheetahs left.
“The decline of big cats is, of course, of huge concern. But they’re not the only ones. Tusk and other conservation groups are now confronting the truly horrific situation effecting Africa’s elephant and rhinoceros. Both are being mercilessly and illegally poached at a rate not seen for decades. Unless this stops, these two majestic animals will be, in a few short years, but a memory in the wilds of Africa. This cannot happen. We must not let it.”
“But what can we do? As Patron of Tusk, I’ve seen for myself some of the outstanding results our work achieves. In Botswana, for instance, my brother and I visited an innovative project developing a bio-boundary technique to reduce conflict between farmers and natural marauders and predators.
Brilliant ideas such as this will help. But I have always believed in Tusk’s strategic vision that long-term success rests on educating people. Whether Africans, naturally worried about protecting their livestock from predators, or those on other continents who drive the demand for ivory and rhino horn – whoever they may be, people need to understand the consequences of the path we are currently taking.”
William ended his speech by emphasizing the need for knowledge about the consequences over poaching and killing endangered animals. He thanked the producers of “African Cats” and Tusk Trust for their work.
The Prince also joked about the documentary, saying: “Wow – that was amazing. I’m emotionally exhausted. There’s more drama in that than EastEnders. What that told me was – who needs men?”
Sources: Telegraph, Monsterse & Critics, Huffington Post UK
Monday marked a royal milestone for Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge: she made her first public speech. Nearly a year after she married Prince William, the future Queen of the United Kingdom spoke at the East Anglian Children’s Treehouse hospice in Ipswich, Suffolk. She is patron of the East Anglian Children’s Hospice.
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Although she looked a tad nervous, Catherine delivered her speech rather well for someone aware that this event will be broadcast globally. She thanked the hospice for having her there and said her husband would’ve loved to have seen the new facility.
“I am only sorry that William can’t be here today. He would love it here. A view of his — that I share — is that through teamwork, so much can be achieved. What you have all achieved here is extraordinary,” the Duchess said.
After her nearly three minute speech, Catherine then spent more than an hour visiting the children who being taken care of at the hospice. She painted with them and even posed for photograph with a terminally ill three year old boy so his family would have a memorable keepsake.
At the end of her visit, Catherine was given a posy by 6 year old Tilly Jennings, who thanked her for coming. Another little girl, 10 year old Bethany Woods also gave her flowers and earlier had sang for the Duchess in the Treehouse’s music therapy room.
Also at the end, Catherine planted a tree – her first in Great Britain. The first tree planting was in Canada last year.
The Treehouse was built by donations totaling £3 million.
Sometime this week, Prince William will return from the Falklands. After that, the couple won’t have any official duties for about a month.
As Saturday was St. Patrick’s Day, it is customary for the members of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards of the United Kingdom to be presented with shamrocks. This year, it was the Duchess of Cambridge who gave them out. This was also Catherine’s first solo military engagement.
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Arriving at the Aldershot Barracks in Aldershot, England, Her Royal Highness was greeted by the former Commanding Officer, Major General William Cubbitt. God Save the Queen was played and the 450 soldiers marched in their uniform of scarlet tunics and bearskins.
Then Catherine personally gave sprigs of shamrocks to the 40 officers and warrant officers. She even gave one to Conmael, the regimental mascot. The dog is a Irish Wolfhound who had been shampooed and blow-dried for this event.
After that, the soldiers finally removed their bearskins and gave three cheers to the Duchess and to St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Their band played some traditional Irish songs, such as “Carrickfergus”. The Duchess then posed for photos with the regiment.
Finally, Catherine went to their mess hall where the soldiers cheered for her. She even had two sips of Harvey’s Bristol Cream with the regiment to mark St. Patrick’s Day.
The Irish Guards were first formed in 1900 by Queen Victoria as her gratitude for their service in the British Army in the second Boer War in South Africa.
The following year, Queen Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII, began the tradition of handing out the shamrocks. For years, the Queen Mother did this until her death in 2002.
Catherine’s husband, Prince William, is an honorary colonel of the Irish Guards and wore their uniform at his wedding last April.
Thursday saw Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge have two events to take care of. First, she promoted field hockey then she appeared with her father and stepmother-in-law at a London art gallery. Both engagements were right up her alley as she enjoys both sports and the arts.
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Dressed casually, Catherine arrived at London’s Olympic Park to promote the British field hockey team. She along with husband Prince William and brother-in-law Prince Harry are ambassadors for this year’s Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The Duchess was once captain of Marlborough College’s field hockey team, the school she attended.
“I was really looking forward to coming here but now I am here and have discovered I have to play I am not feeling so confident,” she told reporters.
“The last time I played was 2005, maybe. It feels like I haven’t held a stick for ten years. I haven’t played since I stopped so I am really nervous now.”
Luckily, Her Royal Highness scored a goal on her first try and received applause from a crowd of on-lookers.
Earlier, she met physiotherapists and coaches and chatted about training methods, showing her great knowledge of them.
Both the British male and female field hockey teams are ranked fourth in the world, so they are hoping to medal this summer when London hosts the Olympics.
Catherine told the female players: “I really hope to be here, I would love to see you play in the games. Now I have seen the set up and got to see behind the scenes it would be really exciting to come back and see everyone in action. Good luck with everything.”
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Later in the day, the Duchess joined Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall at Dulwich Picture Gallery to see how children are benefiting from Charles’ Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts.
When the trio arrived, crowds of children chanted, “Kate, Kate, Kate” – which shows the Duchess’ popularity.
Catherine and her father in law joined in with the children in making montages of their faces for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. It was done by use of irons, which Catherine said using one was like “being at home”.
Prince Charles meanwhile struggled with his iron, which his daughter-in-law uprighted after spotting he had left it face down on the table.
For the first time, Queen Elizabeth II was joined by her daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law for a simple engagement Thursday, where the trio visited her grocer which has its restaurant renamed in honor of Her Majesty’s 60 years on the throne.
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At the high-end department store, Fortnum & Mason, the three generations of royals spent an hour inspecting its restaurant, now named The Diamond Jubilee Tea Station. They also received their own hampers, each filled with luxurious items, including truffles, soaps, macadamias, and “hearty treats for happy hounds”.
Meaning, each royal woman got treats for their pet dogs, including the Duchess of Cambridge, who famously has a cocker spaniel named Lupo.
Fortnum’s managing director Beverley Aspinall said: “Of course they all have dogs and we do want to think about what our customers like.”
As they toured the shop, Catherine admitted her love of chocolate. “I think all girls like chocolate,” she giggled.
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, appeared to share her enthusiasm. “What I really would like to try is one of those,” she said, pointing to the violet creams. “But we aren’t allowed to. Maybe I could pop back later and get you to make me up a box. They really are very addictive.”
Catherine also told the staff she would send her younger brother, James, to the store because of its tea selection. “I will definitely send him down here,” she said. “I will tell my brother to come down. He really does love his tea. This is so interesting. I would really like to learn to make the perfect cup of tea as when I last made a pot of tea with dried tea leaves I got it very wrong.”
The Queen met members of the Weston family, owners of the 300-year-old London retailer, before meeting with the store’s past and present employees.
Ahead of today’s visit, a source said: “The invitation would have come from the Queen to the other two woman to join her, and I’m sure we will see lots more joint engagements like this in the future.
“Kate has a lot to learn from the more experienced royals and what better way to see how it’s done than to watch the expert, the Queen, at work up close.
“Kate is already very close to Camilla, who has really taken her under her wing, and I’m sure we will see the trio looking very relaxed together and enjoying some interesting and memorable moments.”
Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, was in Liverpool Tuesday for her second solo public engagement. There, she paid a visit to a children’s hospital, the Ronald McDonald House, and Action on Addiction, a charity she is patron of.
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Her Royal Highness first went to Action on Addiction, where she visited its an alcohol-free bar, The Brink, on Parr Street. She was shown how alcoholic-free beer is made, particularly one called The Duchess, which is made from milk, honey, banana, cream and almonds.
Catherine, the real Duchess, tested the beer and said, “Amazing, well done.”
She then heard from recovering alcoholics who have benefited from the charity and listened to the bar’s choir, the Raucous Caucus Recovery Chorus.
Jacquie Johnston-Lynch, of Action on Addiction in Liverpool, thanked Catherine for her visit.
“Thank you so much, your Royal Highness, for being here today,” she said. “This is just such an incredible honor. Anything that can put recovery on the map is 100% amazing.”
During her visit, Catherine did a walkabout to the crowds gathered, her first without Prince William by her side. The Prince is currently in the Falklands for a six week tour.
The crowds were delighted to see the Duchess. One little boy, Jaqson Johnston-Lynch, gave her a Valentine’s Day card and a bouquet of roses, telling her, “Happy Valentine’s Day, your Royal Highness. I’m sorry Prince William can’t be here.”
Catherin told Jaqson that her husband sent her a card for the loving day.
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Later on, the Duchess headed for the Ronald McDonald House (RMHC), which gives housing for parents of critically ill children. She called the place “fantastic”.
One of the patients, 10-year-old Ethan Harris, presented her with a Valentine’s Day card where he wrote a little poem: “You’re smiley like the sun, you’re bright like a star, you’re light when it’s dark and I love your spark.”
Catherine then unveiled a plaque commemorating her visit and did another walkabout.
Finally, she visited the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where she made a private visit for young people being treated for cancer and burn injuries.
While her husband is away in the Falklands, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, made her first public solo engagement by touring the Lucian Freud preview at the National Portrait Gallery. Her Royal Highness, who has a degree in History of Art, became patron of the gallery last month.
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Catherine saw the artwork set to be put on display and met with the art world’s famed including Freud’s daughters Bella and Esther and the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
She also met Sue Tilly, who posed naked for four Freud portraits. When asked how she would feel having the Duchess see paintings of her in the nude, Tilly, age 54, laughed it off.
“I’m not embarrassed about her seeing me naked – I’m a human being,” she said before the event. “It’s art, you know. Poor woman, I’m sure she’s seen things before.”
The Duchess got rave reviews for her first solo engagement by the gallery’s director.
“The Duchess was extremely attentive and I think really interested in not just the chance to see the full range of Lucian Freud’s work but very interested to see the differences in technique,” said Sandy Nairne.
Catherine’s visit to the National Portrait Gallery comes as St. James Palace confirms that she will sit for her own official portrait soon.
A Palace spokesman said: “The Duchess is happy to do it some time in the future. There haven’t been any decisions about who the artist will be, this is being discussed.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were at the London premiere of the Steven Spielberg directed film, “War Horse”. The movie is about an English horse sent to the French battlefields of World War I. Their Royal Highnesses went to the premiere to in aid of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.
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It was raining during the event, so while walking up the red carpet at the Leicester Square cinema, Prince William held an umbrella for wife, Catherine, who wore a black lacy dress by Alice Temperley.
The couple met with the actors of the film, which is based on a novel and a play. They even chatted with Spielberg, who has met William during previous events.
“This is my first royal premiere for the Duke and Duchess, having done them before for the Queen and the Queen Mother. This is a wonderful occasion tonight. This is so exciting. I get a buzz.”
The Oscar-winning director praised the two for bringing 600 British soldiers to the premiere.
“It’s a great honor that they’ve given up their time and also given up their charity and it’s wonderful because it was their idea to bring the veterans here, so they could share this evening,” he said.
Some of the troops, both former and serving, come from the Duke’s regiments, such as the RAF Search and Rescue, Irish Guards, Royal Air Force Coningsby, Scotland Royal Naval Command and Submarines Royal Naval Command.
It was announced shortly after midnight in the United Kingdom that Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, is now the patron of four charities. The organizations range from the arts to addiction.
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The first charity Her Royal Highness will be involved in is The Art Room, which gives art lessons to children with emotional and social problems, such as low self esteem and autism. Catherine has a degree in History of Art, so this choice seems natural for her.
Founder and director Juli Beattie said, “We’re absolutely delighted, we’re overwhelmed and thrilled. This is just fantastic, it will raise the profile of the charity and get people to see the work we are doing.”
Another natural choice for her patronage is the National Portrait Gallery in London.
In addition, the Duchess will be involved in Action in Addiction, which Nick Barton said, “It’s not an easy subject for some people but I think this sort of patronage will change that.”
Also to be a place close to her heart is the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. In November, she visited the latter in a low profile manner in order to see if the being patron of the Hospice – known as EACH – was up her alley.
A couple, named Grant and Charlotte Clemence, were supported by EACH when their newborn daughter died of a rare heart condition last May. Mrs. Clemence had this to say about Catherine: “The Duchess showed genuine interest to all the families and staff she met and it really will be a great boost for EACH.”
Finally, she will be a scout volunteer in Anglesey, where she lives with Prince William, who works as a search and rescue pilot. Having been a Girl Scout as a child, Catherine will help out with the local chapter. This is because she and William want to give back to the tiny Welsh island they call home.
“The Duchess has an incredibly busy life, which makes it all the more inspiring that she has chosen to volunteer alongside us,” said UK chief scout Bear Grylls. “I think what’s lovely is that she’s going to feel exactly the way young scouts feel when they first join: a little bit nervous, but that’s what scouting’s all about. You’re part of a big family.”
The Duchess took her time to carefully choose her patronages and reportedly wanted to compliment her husband’s patronages.
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