Enchanted party boasts royal attendee

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge will visit a children’s hospice in Hamilton on Saturday April 12.

Waikato Hospice’s branch for children, Rainbow Place, will host Her Royal Highness for approximately one hour, fundraising and events co-ordinator Monique Webb said.

“We are very excited for our up-and-coming royal visitor.”

During her Waikato stay, the Duchess will explore Rainbow Place’s art therapy room and spend time with staff, patients, and affected families.

Hospice Waikato Chief Executive Craig Tamblyn is “delighted” by the visit. “We are excited that the Duchess has asked to come and see the work we are doing.”

After a tour of the hospice facilities, Catherine will attend the “enchanted style” annual Rainbow Place children’s party, sponsored by Gallagher.

Catherine is royal patron of the East Anglia Children’s Hospices, and “has a particular interest in children’s hospices”, according to her staff.

“She will be showing more than royal politeness,” Tamblyn said.

Her Royal Highness spoke equally enthusiastically on her role in juvenile healthcare, in an open letter to East Anglia Children’s Hospices. “I have felt truly honoured to be a part of this organisation,” she said.

“Providing children and their families with a place of support, care and enhancement at a time of great need is simply life changing.”

Saturday’s Hamilton visit is the latest in an international string of appearances at hospices. In 2012, the royal couple visited Hospis Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, where Catherine gave her first overseas speech.

“Through this patronage, I have learnt that delivering the best possible palliative care to children is vital … With effective palliative care lives can be transformed. Treatment, support, care and advice can provide a lifeline to families at a time of great need,” she said at the time.

All services provided by Rainbow Place are completely free; the centre relies on funding from the District Health Board, and donations.