Prince Williampaid a special tribute to his late motherPrincess Dianawhen he visited a hospice charity that she opened 30 years ago.
William, 36, visited Acorns hospice in Selly Oak, Birmingham, on Tuesday — almost three decades after Diana opened the haven for seriously-ill kids in December 1988. At the time, it was one of the first children hospices in the world.
In the last year, the hospice has provided care for more than 870 children and their families. On Tuesday, William met with some of those who use Acorns’ facilities, such the hydrotherapy pool and the multi-sensory room. He then took part in the celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary.
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Some of the staff and supporters, who were present at both events, said they remembered the moment Diana visited “like it was yesterday,” and declared that William had inherited his mother’s way with children.
During a visit to the activity room, a group of kids and their careers were painting and making dinosaurs. He asked one little girl whether hers was a triceratops.
“George is obsessed with dinosaurs,” he revealed. “We’ve been learning all about them.”
“You are going to have to make some more room,” he said, referring to the space on the wall.
In a speech Acorns Hospice President, Kay Alexander, said, “Thirty years ago HRH Diana, Princess of Wales, came here to open Acorns. I was here and it was great. It was a wonderful day, the accomplishment of so many dreams. It was only the third children’s hospice in the world . . . it means more to us than we say to have you coming here today.
“I am going to get tearful,” she added.
“Don’t, you’ll start me off as well,” William laughed.
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His visit was part of a busy “away day” for William in the West Midlands. Earlier, William attended the first graduation ceremony for one of his charity’s, SkillForce, that aims to help build school children’s character and confidence.
SkillForce’sPrince WilliamAwards were held at the University of Birmingham. In a powerful speech, William said: “Children and young people today need our help more than ever. They face a level of pressure that previous generations simply did not experience. I have spoken before about the burden of social media and the sense of being on call 24/7, which can affect everyone’s mental wellbeing.
William received a huge welcome from around 150 school kids as he arrived to hand out the awards that reward resilience and character.
And, to the kids’ laughs, Walliams added, “one day His Royal Highness will be king and nearly as powerful as Simon Cowell.”
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source: people.com
