H Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh visits children and families supported by charity

HER Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh met children and families supported by Shooting Star Children’s Hospices this week.

The Duchess, who is Royal Patron of the charity, visited their Surrey hospice, Christopher’s in Guildford. The hospice supports children, young people and their families with respite stays, symptom management, and end-of-life care, as well as a comprehensive range of therapies, and is one of two hospices run by Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

The leading children’s hospice charity supports 700 families who have a baby, child or young adult with a life-limiting condition or who have been bereaved across west London and Surrey.

The Duchess was received by the charity’s Vice-President, Michael More-Molyneux in his role of HM Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, before spending time talking to children and families supported by the charity and joining in with arts and crafts activities. The Duchess, who officially opened Christopher’s in 2002, also met Julia Lever MBE, Founder of CHASE as the charity was previously known, before visiting the hospice garden to plant a tree to mark her visit.

Before departing, The Duchess was presented with a special canvas which had been created by children that use the hospice.

Karen Sugarman MBE, Executive Vice-President at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices said:

“It was an honour to welcome back our Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh and wonderful to see Her Royal Highness sharing so much time with our supported families. The Duchess always takes the time to show so much compassion and kindness to everyone she meets at the charity and her visit today will make such precious memories for everyone here.”

The Duchess has supported Shooting Star Children’s Hospices for over 20 years, most recently visiting their west London hospice, Shooting Star House, in Hampton in 2022 and volunteering her time, helping staff and volunteers at two of their charity shops in Weybridge and Hampton Hill in 2020.