Princess Kate carries out solo engagement after missing poignant ceremony - best photos


The Princess of Wales was absent from the Aberfan memorial on Wednesday, but on Thursday, she headed to Ipswich to visit The Treehouse children's hospice


Kate Middleton, wearing a green suit and black turtleneck, smiles while walking.© Alamy Stock Photo
Matthew Moore
Matthew MooreSenior Evening Writer
16 minutes ago

The Princess of Wales headed to Ipswich on Thursday, where she visited The Treehouse children's hospice in her role as patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH).

Catherine opened The Treehouse back in 2012, and her visit is due to highlight the transformative impact of the care, compassion and connection that EACH provides to children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

The royal started her visit by seeing The Treehouse's new expansion project, where construction is underway on a new hydrotherapy pool, wellbeing and therapies suite, larger care activity area, dedicated teenage space, an additional bedroom and expanded kitchen and dining facilities.

She will see the development in progress, which is expected to be completed in 2028, and hear how EACH continues to fundraise to support both the expansion and the provision of vital day-to-day care and support for families.

Catherine is also due to meet with some of the children and families receiving care and support at The Treehouse and learn about the complementary creative therapies they receive, including music therapy and sensory experiences.

Scroll down for the best photos from the event…

Kate Middleton, wearing a green suit and black turtleneck, smiles while walking outdoors.© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Princess looked as stunning as ever

Catherine's royally approved look

With temperatures falling, Catherine was taking no chances when it came to her look, with the royal wearing a stylish blazer from Victoria Beckham, fittingly dubbed the 'Katherine'.

Safety first© Alamy Stock Photo

Catherine got a first-person look at the construction

Safety first

The Princess of Wales wasn't messing around with safety, and she was seen donning a hard hat and high-vis jacket as she started her tour of the construction site.

Kate Middleton, wearing a white hard hat and orange vest, smiles brightly.© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Princess of Wales is always glam

Stunning earrings

Of course, Catherine made even a hard hat and high-vis jacket look glam, with the royal looking stunning in a pair of earrings from Kiki McDonagh.

Three people in safety gear at a construction site, one is Dontrelle Inman.© Getty Images

The Princess was clearly tickled

Royal belly laugh

As the royal toured the site, she found a reason to chuckle and was pictured letting out a large belly laugh.

Touching meeting© Alamy Stock Photo

The royal met with parents supported by the centre

Touching meeting

After touring the construction site, Catherine spoke with a group of relatives who were supported by the centre's work.

Catherine's missed event

The royal's latest outing comes after she missed a memorial marking the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, which was attended by her husband, Prince William, King Charles, and Queen Camilla.

However, Catherine still showed her support, with her signature spotted on a wreath that was laid by William at the Aberfan Memorial Garden. The message on the couple's wreath read: "In our memory and in our hearts forever," which was also repeated in Welsh.

Memorial wreath with white flowers and red poppies, commemorating the Aberfan Disaster on 21 October 2016.© Getty Images
Catherine left a poignant message alongside her husband

The royal had previously paid her respects to those who lost their lives in the disaster. In 2023, she and William were led through the Aberfan Memorial Garden which  commemorated those who died when a colliery spoil tip collapsed and sent tonnes of ash slurry onto the village below.

The garden sits on the site of the former Pantglas Junior School, which was engulfed by the landslide at 9:13 am on 21 October 1966, just as lessons had begun. They were guided around the memorial garden by Aberfan survivor David Davies, a former pupil at Pantglas, and Professor Peter Vaughan, Lord Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan.

kate middleton paying a visit to the Aberfan memorial garden in Aberfan, south Wales© Getty Images
Catherine and William visited Aberfan in 2023

The couple also met trustees from the Aberfan Memorial Trust who are involved in maintaining the garden, alongside members of the Aberfan Wives group who lost relatives in the disaster.

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