On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess headed to Clitheroe Community Hospital in Lancashire to champion mental wellbeing and support during the pandemic. William, 39, and Kate, 40, thanked NHS staff for their valiant efforts amid the challenges presented by Covid, and their tireless work to continue supporting their patients.
During their visit, the royals learned about the unique challenges faced by rural health providers and gained an insight into Church on the Street, run by Pastor Mick Fleming.
The initiative describes itself as a “faith in action charity”, noting that its main aim is to lift people out of poverty while providing a space for worship.
Church on the Street was set up in 2019 to help the homeless and people living in poverty.
The charity operates in Burnley and across the North West, and the royals met with volunteers and staff as well as a number of service users to hear about their experiences first-hand.
During the visit, the couple, who are both royal patrons of NHS Charities Together, posed for photos with a number of patients and colleagues.
The Duchess of Cambridge was spotted greeting Trudi and Alastair Barrie and their daughter Anastasia during a visit to the charity.
For one snap, the Duchess found herself holding young Anastasia Barrie, a sweet baby just three and a half months old.
The royal beamed while cradling the tot, and gazed adoringly at the young baby in her arms.
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The five of them were spotted leaving the St Mary Magdalene Church near their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall and piling into the car together.
During Thursday’s visit, Kate wore a camel coloured wool and cashmere-blend coat which she combined with a polo neck jumper and matching skirt.
While at the hospital on Thursday, the Duke and Duchess met with GPs, nurses and other community workers and heard about their experiences during the pandemic.
They also praised them for continuing to deliver a high standard of care for patients despite the huge pressures caused by Covid-19.
The staff were congratulated for working tirelessly both within the hospital and in the rural community, despite services being the busiest on record.
Frontline staff, in particular, have felt the strain during the pandemic despite many of those with Covid having been admitted to larger, urban hospitals.
Also during Thursday’s engagements, Kate was presented with a “therapy puppy” called Alfie, a cockapoo who will be trained to support patients and colleagues at the hospital.
The mother-of-three could hardly contain her delight at cuddling the adorable pooch, and while holding him, Kate could be heard saying: “You are so sweet. You match my coat.”