Kate Middleton returned to a special place in her royal story on October 22. The Princess of Wales visited a children’s hospice in Ipswich, England, where she delivered her first royal speech 14 years ago.
Kate met children and families receiving care at The Treehouse. She also toured a major expansion project. The visit highlighted her longstanding commitment to children with life-limiting conditions and their loved ones.
The Princess of Wales revisits the hospice where she gave her first royal speech
Kate visited The Treehouse as patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). She became the charity’s patron in January 2012. According to PEOPLE, her visit included a tour of the hospice’s ongoing expansion.
The project will add a hydrotherapy pool and new therapy suites. Plans also include a larger activity area, a dedicated space for teenagers and an additional bedroom to increase capacity. Expanded kitchen and dining areas will also support families. The charity expects construction to finish in 2028.
Kate met families and learned about the hospice’s creative therapies, including music sessions and sensory experiences. The activities support children’s emotional and social development. EACH also helps families navigate the challenges of caring for seriously ill children.
The visit marked a full-circle moment for Kate. She delivered her first public speech as a royal at The Treehouse in March 2012. In 2019, she recalled that milestone and explained what the hospice meant to her.
“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,” she said.
“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,” she added.
EACH is one of two hospice charities Kate supports. The other is Tŷ Hafan in South Wales. Princess Diana, William’s late mother, helped support its creation.
Kate’s visit followed the October 20 state banquet at Windsor Castle. She joined Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla in welcoming Oman’s sultan.
She also missed the Aberfan disaster’s 60th-anniversary memorial. However, a wreath from the couple carried their message: “In our memory and in our hearts forever.”
