The Princess of Wales has arrived for her first royal ‘away day’ since 2023 as part of her slow and steady return to royal duties as she visits a children’s hospice, of which she has become patron.
Arriving at Tŷ Hafan this morning after ‘proudly’ announcing her new patronage, Catherine, 43, donned a checked dress from Zara with pussybow detailing and wore her hair in loose waves hanging down her shoulders, before being greeted by a member of staff.
It wasn’t long before the princess got stuck in to the visit, as she made a beeline for adorable children who visit the hospice who were using the soft play area.
She took part in a musical session with children suffering from life-limiting conditions and even had her hand painted red to leave a permanent memory of her visit.
Kate, who is a mother of three, chatted to young children including a little girl who uses a wheelchair, and who was dressed in pink and had her hair in pigtails for the occasion.
Speaking to the young girl, she asked: ‘What do you like doing when you’re here?’ before she replied to explain she enjoyed music.
Kate then asked: ‘Have you played any of the instruments?’ and picked up a rattle before giving it a little shake. The little girl erupted in giggles and went on to demonstrate her percussion playing on a xylophone.
She was overheard discussing ‘challenging’ times for families as she spoke with parents whose children have received care from the hospice.
It is no coincidence that the princess has chosen South Wales to undertake two solo engagements given her title and love for the country and its people, sources have told the Mail.
The Princess of Wales brought a ray of sunshine to south Wales this morning as she visited a children’s hospice
The Princess beamed as she spoke with a young boy who walks with the aid of a walking frame
Kate gets crafty! The Princess made art with her hands with the help of a young girl who painted her palm bright red
A royal work of art! the Princess made a piece of artwork out of her painted handprint and signed it with ‘Catherine’
Kate’s sweet artwork follows King Charles’s lilac handprint from a visit to the hospice in 2018 when he was still the Prince of Wales
Catherine joined children with at a ‘stay and play’ fun-filled event after Kensington Palace donated musical instruments – and admitted her own children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis would have ‘loved’ the activities.
Walking into the room where children were entertained by a guitarist, she said: ‘This is very vibrant.’
Smiling Catherine crouched down to speak to Dani-Rae, 3, and asked: ‘What do you like doing here? Are you having a good time? Are you singing songs?
She shook some maracas and asked: ‘Do you like playing any instruments?’
The mother-of-three also warmly chatted with parents and carers asking: ‘Are there any places like this in the community?’
She also joined in the games rolling a sparkly ball along the floor and asked Dani-Ray: ‘Are you going to meet your friends? You’re gonna stay here? It’s really nice to meet you.’
She sat with Felix, 12, and listened to how he was being cared for at the hospice, saying: ‘This is a really calm place.’
And she also spoke to the family of Maisie, 16, about what she enjoys about coming to the hospice.
The Princess erupted in laughter as she repaid the favour and painted the hand of a little girl who uses the hospice
Kate shared a sweet moment with the little girl when she held her hand and engaged in conversation with her
The princess shared a joke with some of the parents and staff as she spoke to them about life in hospice care
The princess wore her high street favourite, a dogtooth checked mini dress from Zara with puffed sleeves and a pussybow detail
The Princess chatted to the parents of the children who use the hospice and receive care
While speaking Savanah-Blu, 5, she tenderly placed her hand on her left knee.
She asked the parents and carers: ‘How much has the support here helped her?’
And spoke about the hospice providing ‘physical and emotional support’ for children with life-shortening conditions.
Catherine said: ‘I know what such a lifeline it is here and makes such a difference.’
The royal visitor was also shown a room that is to be used by Maisie, and noticed a copy of The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark – which she read on CBeebies Bedtime Stories in 2022.
Told some children can stay for care without their parents, she remarked: ‘Sometimes, having just spoken to them, the fact that they have been coming here for regular periods of time, they build up a rapport so they know they are really in a safe space and got that relationship with their carers.’
‘That’s support on a holistic front not just their physical needs, it’s that (gesturing to the stay and play).’
Five-year-old Oscar, who had missed the Stay and Play as he was riding around the hospice’s corridors, bumped into the Princess during her tour.
During a music therapy session, the Princess tried her hand at some percussion and shook a maraca
The little boy who used the respite care and took part in the music therapy session grabbed the instrument from the Princess
The mother-of-three joined a music therapy session and chatted to young children who have benefited from the hospice’s care
The Princess wore her hair in loose curls hanging down her shoulders and donned a pair of gold geometric earrings
In addition to attending and taking part in play and music therapy sessions, Kate visited treatment rooms for young patients
She leaned down and said: ‘You’ve got some good exercise going.’
As the youngster looked like he was about to set off on another lap of the hospice the princess asked: ‘Are you going back down this way.’
But instead Oscar whizzed off leading her through the building to the garden.
Outside she marvelled at the ‘beautiful environment’ and spoke to parents who had lost their children.
She hailed ‘such a beautiful connection’ after hearing in the tweeting of bird songs that have been created by turning children’s names into morse code.
A plaque on the speaker playing the bird songs reads: ‘These names will be forever in our skies.’
The princess then helped four-year-old Maggie, sibling of Felix, make a handprint.
Catherine grabbed her hand and said: ‘Shall we do it together? Would you like me to paint your hand?’
Kate, 43, donned a checked grey dress with a pussybow detail from Zara that she has previously worn to undertake the visit
The Princess of Wales beamed as she played with two young children today on the visit to the hospice after being announced as its new patron
She held her hand and brushed on red paint and said: ‘Tell me it tickles.Is it ticklish? My kiddlies would love this if I went and did this back at home today.’
She covered the youngster’s hand in red paint before Lottie, 10, who is also Felix’s sister, took her turn to paint the princess.
Catherine said: ‘It’s very relaxing.’
Then asked ‘ready?’ and placed her hand on a piece of paper and said ‘I should have done my nails.’
Looking at her mark left behind she said: ‘It’s huge!’
Then after washing off the paint she signed it ‘Catherine’ next to the handprint which will be digitised and put on the wall with others from children, their siblings and parents.
On her way out the princess pledged her support and said: ‘It’s been a very special visit.’
The day was designed to showcase the work of ‘long-established organisations with community at their core’.
The princess’s visit focused on spotlighting the wellbeing of children and families as well as celebrating excellence in Welsh textiles manufacturing, both of which are themes close to her heart.
A source told the Mail: ‘When she became the Princess of Wales she and her husband vowed to celebrate and service the dynamic nation that Wales is today.
Mother-of-three Kate, 43, made a fuss of a little girl who uses a wheelchair and who was dressed in pink with her hair in pigtails
The princess crouched down to discuss the hospice’s good work with parents whose children use the play area for respite care
Kate beamed as she chatted to staff, parents and children at the hospice on her first solo engagement away from home in more than a year
‘I think the Princess choosing a visit to Wales for her second solo engagement of 2025 signals the importance that she places on Wales and the love that she has for the nation and its people.’
The last joint ‘away day’ of engagement conducted by the princess was in early November 2023 and her last day of solo engagements was in September of the same year, when she visited her ancestors’ former wool factory in Leeds.
Catherine began the day with a moving visit to Tŷ Hafan, a children’s hospice based in Sully, near Cardiff, which supports families to ensure that children with life-shortening conditions have fulfilling lives.
Tŷ Hafan was the first children’s hospice in Wales when it opened in 1999 and provides free care and support both within the hospice itself and in homes and communities.
The charity’s ambition is that no family should have to experience their child’s short life alone, with staff ‘walking alongside’ every family who needs their support – through life, death and beyond.
Holistic care, something that interests Catherine hugely, is a huge part of its ethos, focusing on the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the children in its care.
To coincide with her arrival, Kensington Palace announced that the princess has today also become Patron of Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice, following in the footsteps of the King and her husband’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
Irfon Rees, Chief Executive of Tŷ Hafan – which translates from Welsh to ‘Haven House’ in English – said: ‘We are deeply honoured that Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales has become Patron of Tŷ Hafan and it was an absolute pleasure to welcome Her Royal Highness to our hospice for the first time today.
Upon arrival, the Princess layered her dress with a white/grey double breasted coat with button detailing
‘As our Patron, Her Royal Highness will be an inspiration for children with life-shortening conditions and their families, our dedicated staff and volunteers and everyone who so generously supports us.
‘No parent ever imagines that their child’s life will be short. Sadly this is the reality facing thousands of families in Wales. We can’t stop this happening, but together we can make sure that no one lives their child’s short life alone.’
The wellbeing of children and their families has always been close to The Princess’ heart, a palace aide said.
The first patronage Her Royal Highness took on when she became a Member of The Royal Family was EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice) and she maintains a close relationship with the organisation to this day.
The Princess is looking forward to building a similar relationship with Tŷ Hafan and the children and families it serves in Wales, they added.
As Prince of Wales, King Charles was patron of Tŷ Hafan from 2001.
The position was previously held by Diana, Princess of Wales while the charity was in its fundraising stage.
Commenting on her patronage on the Kensington Palace X/Twitter account, the Princess said: ‘A proud moment becoming Patron of Tŷ Hafan.
Upon arrival the Princess chatted outside the hospice with its staff, on the day she has been announced patron
The Princess appeared solemn as she heard from people involved with the hospice about its vital work in the community
The Princess of Wales looked radiant as she visited a children’s hospice, of which she has become patron, in south Wales today
The Princess looked radiant in muted tones as she was welcomed by members of staff at the hospice
‘Opening in 1999 as Wales’ first children’s hospice, Tŷ Hafan continues to provide specialist care to children with life-shortening conditions, offering vital support to them and their families, throughout life, at end of life, and beyond.’
The Princess’ visit to South Wales today is the first time she has visited the nation since undergoing her treatment and recovery. Her last engagements there were with her husband in October 2023.
During her visit today Catherine has sat through a musical therapy session in action.
To mark the visit and the announcement of the patronage, Kensington Palace have arranged for a donation of musical instruments to be provided to the charity to allow them to conduct more music therapy sessions in the future.
Although it has been a comparatively busy week for The Princess – with the Holocaust Memorial Day Service on Monday followed by the two engagements in Wales today – sources close to the princess are keen to stress that it remains part of a gradual, phased return to work.
Aides say the engagements this week are not a ‘template’ for the next few months and she is not ‘fully back to work’ yet. Her diary will, it is said, vary from week to week.
However ‘she is very much looking forward to being in Wales today and to be focussing on two themes which are close to her heart,’ sources stressed.
During her visit, the Princess is spending time with some of the children and their families, joining a ‘stay and play’ session.
She will also movingly meet with bereaved families supported by Tŷ Hafan throughout their children’s lives, deaths and beyond.
The royal mother-of-three’s solo visit marks her second engagement this week; after she joined her husband Prince William on Monday to mark international Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The Prince and Princess of Wales visited London’s Guildhall where they marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
The event included an emotional reunion with Steven Frank, 89, and Ms Bernstein, 87, both of whom the Princess photographed back in 2020.
The Princess’s close bond with both survivors was clear for all to see, putting on an affectionate display and warmly embracing Ms Bernstein.
Kate described Ms Bernstein, who was hidden as a child in France throughout most of the Second World War by her uncle, as an ‘old friend’, clasping her hands and telling her it was a ‘treat’ to see her again.
She had greeted the 87-year-old by saying: ‘It’s so nice to see you,’ and hearing that Yvonne had suffered some health problems, she added: ‘You’ve had such a hard time, haven’t you?’
The two shared an emotional hug, before Ms Bernstein gently touched the princess’s face and arm, and thanked her for coming.
The touching exchange was reminiscent of their previous meetings in 2020 and 2021 after Kate photographed her for a Holocaust exhibition at the Imperial War Museum – and they’ve clearly remained close over the years.
As revealed by the Mail earlier this month, the princess continues to plan a slow and measured return to royal duties following her cancer diagnosis and treatment last year.
It was little over a year ago that she was admitted to hospital for serious abdominal surgery, after which doctors found there had been evidence of cancer present.
She underwent a gruelling course of preventative chemotherapy, which ended late last summer, and recently confirmed that she was officially in remission.
While thanking people for their ongoing support she warned, however, that her focus remains on her recovery and adjusting to a ‘new normal’ for the sake of her family.
