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Young patient practises her curtsy ahead of Kate's visit

14 FEBRUARY 2012

The Duchess of Cambridge will continue her series of solo engagements when she visits Alder Hey's Children hospital on Tuesday.

And there will be a special person waiting to see her when she tours the wards.

 

 

Kate will meet seven-year-old Aimee Haswell, who was diagnosed with a rare type of congenital heart disease when she was just nine days old.

Her mum Lisa has revealed that she almost died several times but was saved by the care of nursing staff at Alder Hey.

"Aimee is a miracle! We call her 'our little star', " she told the Daily Telegraph. "When we received the phone call on Tuesday to say she had been nominated to greet the Duchess, words cannot describe our feelings."

"She is really excited and is already rehearsing her curtsy. She couldn't wait to get to school and tell everyone the exciting news."

"Aimee deserves this more than anyone I can think of. She's a very strong, brave, happy little girl who has been through so much in her short life."

 

Kate meeting Aimee and her fellow patients all forms part of her bid to connect with the public as working royal.

With her husband, the Duke of Cambridge, deployed in the Falklands, the brunette is becoming more autonomous and established in his absence.

So much so, that the Queen herself has asked Kate to accompany her on two engagements in March.

On the 1 March, she will join the monarch and the Duchess of Cornwall as they unveil a plaque at luxury store Fortnum & Mason, to mark the renovation of Piccadilly.

A week later, she will help the Queen and Prince Philip as they kick off the royal jubilee tour in Leicester.