Kate Praises Nurses & Midwives for "Supporting People At Their Most Vulnerable"

Last month, we learned the Duchess of Cambridge had privately spent two days with Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit in London. It was very much under wraps, though we knew it was in connection with her early years work and role as patron of the global campaign, Nursing Now. The three-year initiative is aimed at raising the profile and status of nursing worldwide, so that nurses can make an even greater contribution at the heart of efforts to tackle the rising burdens of disease. Tonight, we learned more about Kate's time at Kingston Hospital with the release of photographs and an open letter to midwives across the country ahead of 2020's 'Year of the Nurse and Midwife'.

From time spent at the hospital to accompanying midwives and nurses on home visits, Kate's letter praises the efforts of people in these essential professions, whose tireless work often goes under the radar. I'm handing the mic over to the Duchess herself by sharing extracts from her letter which accompany the images perfectly...

"Dear Midwives, Next year the world turns its attention to the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, and recognising and celebrating the humbling work that you and your colleagues do day in, day out, to improve the lives of others. 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 however, 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. The Early Years are more critical for future health and happiness than any other moment in our lifetime. Even before we are born, our mother's emotional and physical health directly influences our development and by the age of 5 a child's brain has developed to 90 per cent of its adult size. Your role at the very start of this period is therefore of fundamental importance."

"During my time at Kingston I accompanied community midwives on their daily rounds and was welcomed in to people's homes. 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. 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. The founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale - whose 200th anniversary we celebrate next year, once said: "I attribute my success to this: I never have or took an excuse" and it is that mantra that I have seen time and time again in all of my encounters with you. 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 so far, and I look forward to meeting and learning from even more of you in the coming years and decades - Catherine".

The Duchess wore a pink geometric dress from Michael Michael Kors (with thanks to Heaven) The sold out dress is described as a "multicoloured printed midi dress featuring a v-neck, an all-over print, a belted waist, long sleeves, a mid-length and a straight hem."

And accessorised with her Kiki McDonough Lauren earrings.

I expect there's a good possibility we'll see the Cambridges attending Sunday service at Sandringham either this coming weekend or next. I hope you're all enjoying a festive break; I'm working on the annual Year in Review post and hope to have it published around New Year's Day :)