An emotional Duchess Kate urges families to make the most of time together

This week is Children’s Hospice Week in the UK and Duchess Kate has marked the occasion by writing a letter about the important role spending valuable time together plays for all families.

Every moment matters

Kate is mum to five-year-old Prince George, four-year-old Princess Charlotte and one-year-old Prince Louis, her children with Prince William.

In her continuing efforts to raise awareness of children’s mental and physical health, Kate spoke of the important work hospices do to support kids who are going through very difficult things.

Harper’s Bazaar reports that Kate then extended the conversation to all families, pointing out that the strong bonds between us are vital for wellbeing. She also notes that we can take inspiration from the work that hospices do.

“Children’s hospices provide vital sanctuaries for those experiencing the very toughest of times”, Kate explained. “They help families and carers build life long memories that are poignant, happy and often filled with laughter.”

“Whether through specialist play aimed at deepening relationships between children and their families, or through art and music therapy that helps young people express themselves and release their thoughts and feelings—the work of organisations like the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices can set a truly heart-warming example to us all,” Kate wrote.

“I hope that they will inspire each and every one of us to similarly make the most of the time we have with our own families, by ensuring every moment matters and that we create memories that last forever.”

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At Deepdale Hall Farm in Cumbria, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met the Brown familly, who have been farming in the valley near Lake Ullswater since the 1950s. Farming and agriculture has a special place in the #LakeDistrict National Park, where farmers have worked centuries on some of the most challenging land in the country. There are three generations living on Deepdale Hall Farm: Chris, his son Jimmy, Jimmy’s wife Robyn, and their four children. Chris and Jimmy are proud of their hill-farming heritage and are keen to carry on farming in a traditional way. The Duke and Duchess joined the Brown family, local farmers, and members of the Farmer Network to discuss some of the key challenges farmers are facing — including rural isolation, Brexit, and support payments. Following the discussion, The Duke and Duchess spent time on the farm with the family tending to their flock of Herdwick and Swaledale sheep, joining them for sheep shearing, herding and dry stone walling. @CumbriaCC #Cumbria #Ullswater

A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Jun 11, 2019 at 11:04am PDT

Mucking about with the Cambridges

Creating memories and having adventures together has been top-of-mind for Kate and her kiddos recently.

During her recent appearance on children’s show Blue Peter, the Duchess noted that her family loves to spend time outdoors together and that she’s conscious this provides a whole host of benefits.

“Rain or shine, they’re dragged outside,” Kate said during the program.

“It’s great. It encourages creativity, confidence and even a short amount of time – 10 or 15 minutes – makes a huge difference to physical wellbeing but also to our mental wellbeing.”

The family played together in the Kate co-designed Back To Nature Garden during a photo opportunity at the Chelsea Flower Show. But they’re often photographed or spotted spending time together outside, despite being peskily pursued by paparazzi.

The Duchess continues: "The theme this year is ‘Moments that Matter’. It aims to make the most of the very precious time that those using hospice services have. Throughout the week we will hear amazing stories from families facing the toughest of futures." pic.twitter.com/1bcUTYnvwP

— EACH (@EACH_hospices) June 17, 2019