The Princess of Wales laughed as she played with terminal children at a “lifeline” hospice.
Kate Middleton joked about her “huge” hands as she left her print on the wall of the Ty Hafan children’s hospice in South Wales on Thursday.
The future Queen, who confirmed earlier this month she is in remission from cancer, has become patron of the hospice as she continues her gradual return to public duties.
She joined a “stay and play” musical session with the children and spoke to two bereaved families whose children were cared for at the hospice.
One little boy caught her attention as she was given a tour, five-year-old Oscar, who was pushing himself around on a walker with wheels.
When Kate joined the musical therapy session where children sat with family members and staff while a musician played a guitar and sang, she chatted to Dani-Rae, aged three, who has spinal muscular atrophy and was dressed in pink and sat in a matching wheelchair.
She dropped down to her level to ask “What do you like doing when you’re here, do you like music? Have you tried any of the instruments?” and held up a pair of maracas.
Kensington Palace has arranged for a donation of musical instruments for the hospice, based in the village of Sully near Cardiff, for future music therapy sessions.
Kate also chatted to a number of parents and their children as she worked her way around the group and at one point said about the hospice: “I know what a lifeline it is and makes a difference.”
To mark the visit there was no plaque unveiling but the princess was invited to make a handprint to be displayed with dozens of others.
She was joined by Maggie, aged four, whose 12-year-old brother Felix has a very rare condition that has left him profoundly disabled.
The princess painted the little girl’s hand with red paint and asked “Is this ticklish? My kiddies love this, I went and did this back at home with them today.”
After the print was made, it was Kate’s turn, and the four-year-old’s sister Lottie, aged 10, was given the honour of painting Kate’s fingers and palm.
When the reveal moment came, the princess looked down at her handprint and said “It’s huge” with a grin.
Her husband Prince William stayed behind in London to hold a meeting at the Ministry of Defence headquarters.
The future head of the armed forces, travelled to the government building on Whitehall on Thursday for the private, official engagement, with no media present.
William was a Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals before spending three years as an RAF and Rescue pilot, and then joining emergency missions as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
As first in line to the throne, the prince carries out his own charitable projects, but also undertakes official duties in support of his father, the King, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer.
