Gallery: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet children, families, staff and volunteers at East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices in Milton

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (Each) at Milton, which was opened in 1989 by Princess Diana.

The visit marked the 10-year anniversary of the duchess becoming royal patron of the charity.

It was her first public visit to the Milton hospice and the first time she had been accompanied by her husband to see the work of Each.

The couple toured the site - opened by Prince William’s mother on August 1, 1989 - and walked around the hospice’s grounds.

They met with children, young people and families who use its services, along with long-term staff members and volunteers, before taking part in art activities with families.

[Read more: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge see their first official joint portrait unveiled at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge]

Each chief executive Phil Gormley said: “We very much enjoyed welcoming Their Royal Highnesses to Milton. It was the duchess’s first public visit to Milton and the very first time we had the pleasure of welcoming the duke to one of our hospices so it was a very special, memorable and momentous day for everyone connected with Each.

“The duchess met our fantastic staff and volunteers at Milton, who work tirelessly with children and their families needing our services. They had the chance to explain the difficulties they have faced in recent years, particularly in light of the pandemic and the isolation they have felt through shielding.

“The visit was the perfect opportunity to celebrate 10 years since Her Royal Highness became our royal patron.

“Throughout the decade, The Duchess has been immensely supportive by championing our cause. Her continued support comes with warmth, empathy and understanding, including beyond public view, and her Patronage is enjoyed and appreciated by everyone at Each.

“We are extremely thankful and consider ourselves honoured and very lucky to benefit from her hard work, generosity and support.”

[Read more: 21 pictures as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the Fitzwilliam Museum to see their first joint portrait]

Since becoming royal patron in 2012, the Duchess has helped raise awareness and understanding of children’s hospice services across East Anglia and the UK, visiting hospices and shop openings, and meeting children and families.

This week (June 20-26) is Children’s Hospice Week, which helps to raise awareness, and its theme is #ForTheChildren, focusing on how important each individual child is to the expert care provided by hospices.

The duchess wrote a personal message to hospices this week, in which she wrote: “For any parent, coming to terms with the news your child has a life-threatening condition and may die young is heart-breaking and incredibly frightening. Families can often feel isolated, but having the support of a children’s hospice means they don’t have to face that future alone.

“Every day, the UK’s 54 children’s hospices are a vital lifeline for families caring for a seriously ill child, and over the last 10 years I have been privileged to see first-hand the incredible work they do.”

Each cares and supports more than 580 children, young people and family members across the region, with 211 currently using services through Milton.

The Duke and Duchess are in the region for Cambridgeshire County Day and earlier visited the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge to see their first official joint portrait unveiled.

They went on to visit Jimmy’s Cambridge to learn about its services for the homeless, before heading to Newmarket Racecourse for the big County Day celebration, attended by about 6,000 people.

Cambridgeshire County Day is being held to celebrate the county in the year of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

It will also raise money for Cambridge Children’s Hospital and the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation’s Lord-Lieutenant’s fund.