Princess Beatrice visits Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice and agrees to be Royal Patron
HER Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York crowned a day-long visit to the county with the news that she has agreed to be the Royal Patron of the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, based in Huddersfield.
Her Royal Highness also opened the new building for the Trinity Academy in Halifax and enjoyed lunch watching a student fashion show at the University of Huddersfield, before spending the afternoon at the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.
Since opening in September 2010, the Trinity Academy Halifax has achieved record-breaking results year-on-year in every area and recently moved into a new state-of-the-art facility, which Her Royal Highness was invited to officially open.
On the day, HRH Princess Beatrice was shown how the students are enjoying innovative learning opportunities, including PE lessons that use iPads and television screens, and she paid a visit to the specially-built Science facility, designed to enable the theory of science to be brought to life in unique ways. Her Royal Highness then opened the new building as part of a ceremony that was witnessed by the whole academy community of students and staff.
After displaying her fashion sense at Royal Ascot’s Ladies’ Day, the day prior to the visit to West Yorkshire, HRH Princess Beatrice encountered some of Britain’s brightest young fashion designers studying at the University of Huddersfield, where she also enjoyed lunch.
The University Fashion Show featured outfits from the collections of fashion design and costume design students. The concepts behind the designs were highly varied and included womenswear based on the clothing inspired by Jacqueline Kennedy and a collection inspired by “all things dangerous and deadly”. The Royal Visitor took a keen interest in the fashionable creations on show and had long chats with the young designers backstage.
In the afternoon, Her Royal Highness travelled across Huddersfield to officially open the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice. The Hospice supports more than 50 children and families with life-shortening conditions in West Yorkshire. During the visit, HRH Princess Beatrice met the children and families whom the Hospice cares for and was shown its brand new facilities, which include a hydrotherapy pool, a sensory room and a music room.
Her Royal Highness crowned the day by announcing that she had agreed to become the Hospice’s Royal Patron. Following the opening, in a letter to the charity, Her Royal Highness said: “I was so impressed with the atmosphere you have created at the Hospice and I had a real sense that this was a place of hope in some of the darkest days of a family’s life. I know that you will go from strength to strength and offer support to many more families in West Yorkshire. Thank you so much for sharing the wonder of the magical place you have created.”
Official photography from all of the visits can be viewed in the gallery section.