Princess Kate blows kisses for sick children during emotional hospital visit

Princess Kate blows kisses for sick children during emotional hospital visit The Princess of Wales spent the afternoon at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where she met several young patients, including some receiving treatment for cancer Princess Kate made a surprise visit to Evelina London Children’s Hospital today, where she blew kisses for sick children who are receiving treatment for cancer. The Princess of Wales, who has been patron of the hospital since 2018, spent the afternoon learning more about how the innovative hospital is working to bring specialist expertise together with family-centred support to help children and their loved ones navigate challenging times. Kate was welcomed to Evelina London Children’s Hospital this afternoon by its chief executive Gubby Ayida as she began a tour meeting patients and families who have already benefited from the facility's major changes. Wearing an elegant white dress and black belt, Kate's first stop in the hospital was the Edward ward, a new children’s cardiac ward within the North Wing at St Thomas’ Hospital, which has established by world-leading children’s heart, lung and intensive care specialists onto a single site. The princess enchanted youngsters and parents alike, and surprised one young boy in a corridor who asked her: “Are you the Queen?” “No, I am the Princess of Wales,” she beamed. Ejran, 10, who has been in hospital for a month suffering from serious cardiac problems, gave her the thumbs up afterwards, saying the encounter had been “amazing”. “I want to meet the King now,” he said. The youngster told Kate how he had written a poem about Shrek, to which the princess told him how her three children all loved the animated film. The future queen met children being treated and their families in the Edward Ward, in what has been designed as a welcoming and friendly environment. She also met Hope Turnbull, 14, with her mother, Connie, who had recently suffered a relapse of heart problems she had suffered since birth and collapsed at home but was hoping to go home soon. Kate then privately visited the Galaxy Ward, a brand-new outpatients unit with the Children’s Day Centre where they can have face-to face heart clinic appointments including diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms, assessments and ongoing care for children and young people with a cardiac condition. Her last stop was the hospital’s atrium to meet the children’s cancer programme team who are working together to plan for the move of a specialist cancer and blood and marrow transplant service. The future Children’s Cancer Principal Treatment Centre located at Evelina will bring together teams from across London and south east England and allow children with cancer to access all the specialist services they need in one place. “I can’t believe the change in three years,” she said, referring to her last visit. “It’s lovely so have these spaces where you can connect.” Evelina London is expanding its services to meet increasing demand and plans are under way for a new hospital building next to the existing site, expected to open in the early 2030s. A key part of Evelina’s expansion is its ongoing work with cancer specialist hospital The Royal Marsden, along with the major teaching institution St George’s Hospital, to move specialist cancer and blood and marrow transplant services for children in south London and South East England into the future Children’s Cancer Principal Treatment Centre, housed in Evelina’s new building. The move would ensure that children with cancer will be able to access more of the specialist services they may need in one place, including intensive care and key cancer surgery. Since becoming patron eight years ago, the future Queen has visited a number of times over the years to get updates about its progress and last made a trip in 2023 to open its children’s day centre. Last year, Catherine celebrated the charity's 20th anniversary with a heartfelt message. She wrote: “As Patron of Evelina, I'm delighted to join everyone at Evelina London Children's Hospital in celebrating the 20th anniversary of its iconic hospital building. "Looking ahead, I am filled with hope for Evelina's future. As it continues to grow, even more children will benefit from the world-class care that defines Evelina, a place where healing begins with connection, and every child is cherished."