The Princess of Wales said she is "filled with hope" as she marked a milestone anniversary for one of her royal patronages. Kate penned a heartfelt message to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Evelina London Children's Hospital in London, praising it as a place that "symbolises love, healing and hope".
The mum-of-three, who has been the hospital's patron since 2018, wrote: "As Patron of Evelina, I'm delighted to join everyone at Evelina London Children's Hospital in celebrating the 20th anniversary of its iconic hospital building. Over the past two decades, this extraordinary space has enabled Evelina London to care for nearly three times as many children and young people as when it first opened. It is a place that symbolises love, healing and hope and has had such an impact on countless lives."
Kate has visited Evelina London on several occasions, with her most recent taking place in December 2023 when she opened the Children's Day Surgery Unit, designed so that patients and their families do not have to stay overnight.
She continued: "As I know from my visits, the building's bright, welcoming spaces and wonderful light-filled atrium ensure children feel safe, supported and nurtured as they face whatever challenges lie ahead. What makes this building so special is the remarkable staff, whose compassion and expertise shine through in every corner of the hospital, and create an environment where families feel cared for and uplifted.
"Looking ahead, I am filled with hope for Evelina's future. As it continues to grow, even more children will benefit from the world-class care that defines Evelina, a place where healing begins with connection, and every child is cherished."
Kate's message comes after she was reunited with her husband, the Prince of Wales, at the weekend following his solo trip to Brazil for the Earthshot Prize Awards. The Princess was joined by her eldest son, Prince George, 12, at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, and attended the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.
What care does Evelina London provide?
Meanwhile, Gubby Ayida, who became Chief Executive of Evelina London Women's and Children's Clinical Group in 2023, said: "Evelina London Children's Hospital is a beacon of hope, compassion and excellence for thousands of babies, children, young people and their families. Over the past 20 years, we've seen extraordinary advances in children's medicine, but what has remained constant is our unwavering commitment to putting children and families at the heart of everything we do. This milestone is a celebration of our staff, our patients, and the community that supports us."
Evelina London is a specialist children's hospital based in St Thomas' Hospital in central London. It provides an extensive range of services for children with rare and complex conditions, with facilities including a 30-bed paediatric intensive care unit, an emergency department, six operating theatres and an imaging service with a MRI scanner, X-ray and ultrasound and a kidney dialysis unit.