The Duchess of Cambridge’s day was busy, taking on two new patronages today, and visiting the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and St Thomas’s hospital; here, she met children at the Evelina unit and gave a speech to launch the Nursing Now 2020 campaign.
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This morning, it was announced that Catherine would become the second royal patron of the RCOG; the College’s previous patron was The Queen Mother. Kate also became Patron of the Nursing Now 2020 Campaign, which aims to raise the profile of nurses and their work around the world.
Nursing is a family occupation for the Duchess; both her grandmother and great-grandmother were voluntary nurses. Her great-grandmother, Olive Middleton, actually nursed in a field hospital during WW1.
Today’s first engagement was held at the RCOG, where The Duchess of Cambridge learnt about the training and education programmes offered by the college, which was founded in 1929.
The college has also awarded Honorary Fellowships to 10 members of the Royal Family, including The Queen, Princess Margaret, The Princess Royal, The Countess of Wessex and the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
Catherine learnt about the education and training offered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology (Kensington Palace)
The RCOG offers programmes to doctors who wish to specialise in the fields of gynaecology and obstetrics, as well as setting global standards for clinical practice.
Catherine, who is seven months pregnant, also participated in a roundtable discussion about women’s health and how the stigma around these issues can be challenged. The discussion particularly focussed on maternal mental health, a cause to which Catherine has dedicated her time in the past.
During her visit, Kate was also presented with a framed certificate to mark her appointment as the college’s patron.
To mark HRH’s new patronage, The Duchess is presented with a certificate by Professor Lesley Regan, the President of @RCObsGyn. pic.twitter.com/YFSEjt7c1k
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) February 27, 2018
Professor Lesley Regan, President of the RCOG, said of the Duchess’ appointment: “We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness whose support will help to raise our profile as a medical charity that champions the provision of high quality women’s healthcare at home and beyond. As a young mother we know that maternal health and wellbeing is an issue close to The Duchess’s heart.
“We hope that this new relationship will build on our work to improve healthcare for women everywhere, and ensure that women’s views on the care they receive are at the heart of everything we do.”
This is the moment the Duchess of Cambridge spotted a familiar face in a crowd of admirers – and it turned out to be the midwife who had helped deliver princess Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/vZFF5rqGwg
— Channel 5 News (@5_News) February 27, 2018
The Duchess also had a chance to reunite with Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, one of the team who helped to deliver her daughter, Princess Charlotte. The two women greeted each other warmly with a hug and had a quick chat, after the Duchess noticed her as she was leaving.
While visiting the RCOG, the Duchess of Cambridge participated in a roundtable discussion about reducing the stigma surrounding women’s health, particularly maternal mental health (Kensington Palace)
The Duchess then visited Evelina Children’s Hospital, which is part of the Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust. Catherine paid a visit to the nurse-led Snow Leopard Ward, where the royal guest spoke to highly-specialised nurses who care for children who need help breathing in order to stay alive.
The nurses showed the Duchess some of the ventilation equipment which parents are taught to use so they can care for their children at home. Kate showed her maternal side as she spoke to some of the children on the ward.
The Duchess of Cambridge launches Nursing 2020 Campaign as she visits Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (Kensington Palace)
Kate spoke to patients and nurses at the Snow Leopard Ward in Evelina Children’s Hospital (Kensington Palace)
At Evelina Children’s Hospital, the Duchess also met with nurses who are at various stages in their careers and heard about the impact which her new patronage, the Nursing Now 2020 Campaign, could have on this profession.
Kate then officially launched the campaign at the end of the conference, which had seen nursing teams from Uganda, Switzerland video-link in and present ideas and reports on their work.
duchess kate gives a speech to launch the nursing now 2020 initiative (livestream)
The Royal made a speech, in which she referenced her own family connections to nursing, as she pledged her support to nurses around the world and quoted the statistic that, in order to keep up with global demand, 9 million nurses need to be recruited and trained by 2030.
She also thanked nurses for the work that they do on a daily basis, stating that their work should not go ‘unrecognised’.
?Watch The Duchess, Patron of @NursingNow2020, make a speech to mark the launch of #NursingNow pic.twitter.com/5FhxUHGWpR
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) February 27, 2018
