Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Princess charms at children’s centre
KATE HAS SWEET MOMENT DURING HILLINGDON VISIT
KATE Middleton shared a very sweet moment with a toddler from west London during a surprise visit.
The Princess of Wales travelled solo to Colham Manor Children’s Centre in Hillingdon on Wednesday November 9, on behalf of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA), for which she is a patron.
She charmed staff, clients and health professionals, as well as a young fan, who she had a very special gift for.
A clip shows her having a very lovely exchange with a little boy, named Akeem, who was at the centre to witness her visit.
The very chatty child asked the Princess of Wales what her name was, to which she responded: “My name is Catherine. It’s very nice to meet you,” before asking: “Have you got a poppy?”
Akeem reached over to grab the poppy, at which point the royal said: “It’s very nice, isn’t it. Would you like mine? You can have my poppy. Here you go. I’ll see if I can get it out,” she added, as she attempted to unpin her poppy from her coat.
Kate added: “Do you know what this is for? It’s for remembering all the soldiers who died in the war. There you go, that’s for you. Will you look after it?” she asked, and went to find the youngster’s mum to hand her the pin so he would be able to wear it.
Elsewhere, during her visit, the Princess of Wales spoke with representatives from agencies working across perinatal services in the borough.
This included specialist psychiatry staff, midwives, health visitors and social workers, before she sat for a roundtable organised by the MMHA.
The royal family member, who has been working tirelessly in recent years to raise awareness and improve services for children in the first five years of their lives, met with various staff and volunteers in her appearance at the centre.
Parents supported by MMHA member groups – Home-Start and Birth Companions – were also present at the centre to meet Kate.
She said: “I think more places like this would be so valuable in communities, bringing people together.”
Kate also told one mum: “It’s fantastic what’s being done here.
“It’s not about having more services, it’s actually about being able to integrate them.”