Kate Middleton writes heartfelt letter to midwives after secret visit to London hospital

Publish Date: Monday, 30 December 2019, 10:43AM

While she may be one of the most famous women in the world, that didn't stop Kate Middleton from secretly completing two days of work experience at Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit in London.

The Duchess of Cambridge - who is a mum to Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, one - spent time training in the maternity ward to learn more about children's early years of development and how experiences between birth and five years affect us as adults.

And now she has written a touching letter to the midwives she worked alongside following her secret visit last month.

In a letter that begins "Dear Midwives" and is signed "Catherine," the Duchess wrote: "You are there for women at their most vulnerable; you witness strength, pain and unimaginable joy on a daily basis."

"Although this was not my first encounter with the care and kindness provided by midwives across the country, it gave me a broader insight into the true impact you have on everybody you help.

"During my time at Kingston I accompanied community midwives on their daily rounds and was welcomed into people’s homes," she continued.

"I was truly touched by the trust that people placed in me, sharing their experiences and voicing their fears openly. I also spent time in hospital clinics and on post-natal wards.

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Ahead of 2020’s International @who #YearoftheNurseandMidwife, The Duchess of Cambridge has written an open letter to midwives across the UK — visit the link in our bio to read the full letter. Writing in her letter, The Duchess said: • “You are there for women at their most vulnerable; you witness strength, pain and unimaginable joy on a daily basis. • Your work often goes on behind the scenes, and away from the spotlight. Recently I was privileged enough to witness a small section of it first hand, spending several days at Kingston Hospital’s Maternity Unit. • Although this was not my first encounter with the care and kindness provided by midwives across the country, it gave me a broader insight into the true impact you have on everybody you help. • Over the last few years, I’ve dedicated a significant amount of my work to the Early Years - the pivotal period of development between pregnancy and the age of 5 where children build crucial foundations for life. • Your role in supporting this critical phase of development extends far beyond the complicated task of delivering a baby successfully. The help and reassurance you provide for parents to be and parents of newborns is just as crucial. It goes a long way in building parents’ confidence from the start, with lifelong impact on the future happiness of their children. • I want to thank you for all that you do. It has been a real privilege learning from you so far, and I look forward to meeting and learning from even more of you in the coming years and decades”. • Several members of @TheRoyalFamily, including The Queen and The Princess Royal, hold Patronages in the fields of Nursing and Midwifery — The Queen is Patron of @thercn, and The Princess Royal is Patron of @midwives_rcm. Photos 📷 1-4 by Kensington Palace / 5-6 by PA

A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Dec 27, 2019 at 2:31pm PST

"No matter the setting, I was continually struck by the compassion that those of you I spent time with showed, and the incredible work ethic you demonstrated on behalf of your entire profession — not only performing your rounds but working tirelessly through the night to support people that were at their most vulnerable," she added.

"You don't ask for praise or for recognition but instead unwaveringly continue your amazing work bringing new life into our world.

"You continue to demonstrate that despite your technical mastery and the advancement of modern medicine, it is the human to human relationships and simple acts of kindness that sometimes mean the most.

"So as we look ahead to next year, I want to thank you for all that you do. It has been a real privilege learning from you."

As part of her Early Years Project, the Duchess reportedly spent time in the antenatal, postnatal and labour wards of the busy maternity unit, which delivered more than 5,900 babies in 2018.

The royal mum's work was first subtly mentioned by Kensington Palace in the Court Circular on November 28, which reveals the activities the royals have completed each week.

"The Duchess of Cambridge, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, today completed two days with Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit in London."

Prince William and Kate's own children were delivered at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital.

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