Kate Middleton makes surprise visit to Evelina London to mark Platinum Jubilee

The Duchess of Cambridge made a surprise visit to Evelina London Children’s Hospital last night to surprise staff, patients and their families unable to join in the Jubilee celebrations this weekend. 

Kate, 40, has been patron of the London hospital, which specialises in providing ‘life-changing’ treatment for children with rare and complex conditions, since 2018. She has been snapped visiting on multiple occasions since then.

This visit was particularly low-key. The duchess, who just hours earlier had joined senior royals at the Queen‘s Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, spent time speaking to the young patients and their loved ones during the unexpected appearance.

News of Kate’s visit to the children’s hospital was announced on the Evelina London Twitter account. The post read: ‘We received a very special surprise last night! Our Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, dropped in for a private visit to meet our patients, families and staff unable to join in the celebrations this weekend.

‘Luckily the hospital was already decked with Platinum Jubilee decorations made by some of the children and young people we are caring for. Thank you YRH [Your Royal Highness] for thinking of us.’

The Duchess of Cambridge made a private visit to Evelina London Children’s Hospital last night to surprise staff, patients and their families unable to join in the Jubilee celebrations this weekend

Kate, 40, who has been patron of the hospital since 2018, spent time speaking to the young patients and their loved ones in a low-key visit on Friday night

Earlier, the Duchess of Cambridge had joined senior royals at the Queen’s Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral

The post was shared alongside two photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge meeting one family by a child’s bedside. 

Also shared were images of some of the Platinum Jubilee decorations decking the wards, which had been made by the patients.

Among them were strings of homemade paper bunting, featuring flags illustrated with pictures of the Queen’s Guards and other royal images.

Another image showed a large paper crown decoration, stuck above a large paper sign which featured the number 70, in reference to her Majesty’s seven decade reign. 

She had changed out of the yellow dress she wore to St Paul’s earlier in the day into a red frock for the outing. 

A tweet by Evelina noted that the hospital was decked out in Platinum Jubilee decorations (pictured) made by its young patients

Although the young patients who made the decorations were unable to attend the Jubilee celebrations, the duchess brought some royal flair to the hospital by making a surprise visit

Among the decorations made by Evelina patients was this bunting featuring corgi-shaped flagged, and a large sparkling crown over a paper cutout showing the number 70

Today she and Prince William took their children George, eight, and Charlotte, seven, on a visit to Cardiff, where they met performers and crew involved in a special Platinum Jubilee Celebration Concert taking place within the grounds of Cardiff Castle.

William and Kate seemed to encourage their shy-looking children to shake hands and introduce themselves to dignitaries as they arrived in the Welsh capital, though Charlotte was soon beaming. It is the young royals’ first official visit to Wales and one of the first times they have greeted and interacted with members of the public.

Missing was Prince Louis who stole the show when he appeared on Buckingham Palace’s balcony with his family and the Queen after the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Thursday.

The couple and their children are due to watch rehearsals and meet some of the acts taking part in the celebrations including Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. Bonnie was last week made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to music.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Cardiff Castle this afternoon

William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge visit Cardiff Castle to meet performers and crew involved in the special Platinum Jubilee Celebration Concert

Charlotte appeared to offer her older brother a flower as they walked around Cardiff Castle with their parents this afternoon

Charlotte, seven, who wearing a smart navy frock coat and blue Mary Jane shoes with white ankle socks, smiled and held Kate’s hand as the duchess waved to well-wishers.

The young princess proved she is following in her mother’s thrifty footsteps, rewearing her navy £140 Amaia coat, previously worn at Prince Philip’s memorial in March, as she arrived at Cardiff Castle for her first royal engagement. The seven-year-old royal smiled and held Kate’s hand as the duchess waved to well-wishers.

The duchess was dressed in a long red coat – matching the colour of the red dragon on the Welsh flag.

George, who is one day expected to be given the title the Prince of Wales, joined his family as they chatted to crowds of royal fans as William placed his arm around his eight-year-old eldest son.

The young prince was seen grinning as William stood behind him with his hands on his shoulders – with the prince wearing a mini-me version of his father’s blue suit and open necked shirt.

George was pictured working the controls of a technical desk, while Charlotte grinned at her brother as she conducted musicians with her hands. She joined her parents and George in listening to an orchestra perform a number of songs, including Sweet Caroline, and appeared particularly overjoyed when the song from the animated film Encanto came on.

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Princess Charlotte laughs as she conducts a band next to her brother, Prince George, during their visit to Cardiff Castle

The Cambridges seemed in high spirits as they left Cardiff Castle this afternoon following their appearance 

William, Duke of Cambridge, puts on a headset next to wife Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at Cardiff Castle

The Cambridge’s visit today was one of a number members of the royal household are carrying out across the UK to mark the Jubilee. While the Cambridges visited Cardiff, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex arrived in Northern Ireland. 

Harry and Meghan, on the other hand, are expected to be absent from Jubilee celebrations today, as they celebrate daughter Lilibet’s first birthday at Windsor and continue to keep a low-profile.

According to Omid Scobie, they will mark the birthday ‘together privately as a family’. The Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla and the Cambridges all wished Lilibet a happy birthday through their social media accounts.

Later, William and his father Prince Charles will take centre stage in front of a crowd of 22,000 to pay tribute to the Queen during a star-studded Jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace. 

The father and son – both future kings – will speak separately in honour of the monarch towards the end of the BBC‘s open-air Party at the Palace show, on the third evening of the four-day Jubilee festivities.

Despite the event not starting until 8pm, royal fans began arriving at The Mall from 8am to get the best spot. 

It is thought unlikely the Queen will attend the concert but confirmation of any movements will be released later today. She will also not attend today’s Epsom Derby Day, but is expected to be glued to the TV, watching the developments from Windsor.