Kate Middleton Makes Emotional Visit to Hospice with Close Connection to Princess Diana

Kate Middleton is making a poignant visit to a children’s hospice in Wales that had close links to another Princess of Wales before her.

On Thursday, Jan. 30, Princess Kate, 43, visited Tŷ Hafan, a charity that helps children with life-shortening conditions and their families lead fulfilling lives. Tŷ Hafan — which means “Haven House” in Welsh — is located in Sully, South Wales, and was built with the support of Prince William’s late mother Princess Diana.

Following in Diana’s steps, Kate was also made patron of the charity. Her father-in-law King Charles was previously patron, which he received after Diana died in Paris in 1997.

Irfon Rees, Chief Executive of Tŷ Hafan, said in a statement that they were “deeply honored” that Kate has become Patron.

“As our Patron, Her Royal Highness will be an inspiration for children with life-shortening conditions and their families, our dedicated staff and volunteers and everyone who so generously supports us,” Rees said.

“No parent ever imagines that their child’s life will be short. Sadly this is the reality facing thousands of families in Wales. We can’t stop this happening, but together we can make sure that no one lives their child’s short life alone.”

It was an intensely moving morning for Kate as she spent time with children who are cared for at the hospice, as well as their families. She also took part in a “stay and play” session, in which the children enjoyed meaningful play and activities alongside their care. Seeing how Tŷ Hafan helps the children and families in a holistic manner, Princess Kate was introduced to bereaved families supported by the hospice throughout their children’s lives, deaths and beyond.

It marked the second outing in several days for the princess, who is gradually getting back into her public role following the Jan. 14 news that she is in remission from cancer. She also joined her husband Prince William at the London commemoration of the Holocaust victims and survivors on Jan. 27, earlier in the week.

The project to build the hospice was one of the last patronages of the late Princess Diana, and it was completed a few years after her 1997 death. Only last year, a new wing for bereaved families and staffers looking for respite amid challenging moments was opened with help from a donation from one of Diana’s former aides, Patrick Jephson.

Kate, who has adopted the hospice movement as one of her key public roles since she began her work in the royal family, has close links with East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice based in the area close to the Wales family’s country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk. Showing its importance to her, Kate’s first-ever royal speech was during a visit to one of the hospice’s centers.

She has also visited hospices in other parts of the world when she has been on royal tours alongside William.

The connection between Princess Diana and Tŷ Hafan began in 1995, when the organization’s founder approached Diana about becoming the hospice’s patron.

“It hadn’t even broken ground, but she said yes,” her former private secretary Patrick Jephson recalled to PEOPLE in October.

The first major fundraiser was a concert featuring opera legend Luciano Pavarotti in nearby Cardiff, following Diana’s request. Tragically, she never saw the hospice come to fruition, as she died in 1997. The hospice eventually opened its doors 25 years ago, becoming Wales’ only hospice for kids.

Jephson told PEOPLE then that one of his “most enduring” memories of Diana is “her determination to lead from the heart — such as her work with end-of-life care around the world, and children’s hospices in particular.”

The work of Tŷ Hafan, he added, “like the work she did to draw the world’s attention to children with life-shortening conditions and their families, is surely the definition of love in action.”

Last October, as if to underscore the link to Diana, the new sanctuary for young people, families and staff, was opened. Its renovation and rebuild was only made possible following a $130,000 donation from her former private secretary Jephson.

Jephson selected Tŷ Hafan to receive the funds after he won a damages payout from the BBC in 2022. This followed the fallout from the controversial 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, which was obtained through “deceitful methods” by journalist Martin Bashir. The BBC later apologized to Jephson for the “serious harm” caused.