Royal acts of kindness

[Alltheprettyseahorses]

Based on a RL conversation I had today -

I'm not a monarchist at all so I don't have many examples lol, but I think Kate Middleton's low-key visit to the Sarah Everard vigil was 100% spot on, even down to only taking female bodyguards so she didn't disrupt the women-only space. I imagine she must have been personally deeply affected by the terrible murder and if a journalist hadn't recognised her behind her facemask no one would have ever known she'd gone. I don't approve of the royal family but I really think that was a lovely, human and humane thing to do.

A few years ago a young man was killed in a motorcycle race. Prince William was amongst the spectators at the event. He went to visit the family of the rider as a private visit to pass on his condolences in person.

I didn't think she was wearing a face mask? I might be wrong, but I seem to recall that it was commented on at the time.

That was a very kind thing for him to do allmycats. I think there must be a mix of fellow-feeling and responsibility towards others given the positions they have.

I've just checked; she wasn't, which was odd given everyone else was, and you'd be forgiven for thinking she didn't want to draw attention.

That's good of him.

Ah, I think I might be misremembering, adding a bit extra to the mythology!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy94gqjq41lo.amp

The King is unable to visit the Sandringham flower show where the local commander of the RAF cadets is fulfilling her last duty before retiring, so he invited her and the cadets to the paddock at Sandringham Church instead See here

I always thought it was really sweet when Catherine kept her promise of wearing a pretty pink dress when she was meeting cancer survivor Mila Sneddon, after Mila said it was her favourite colour over a zoom call. Such a little thing to do but incredibly meaningful for a 5 year old.

I also love reading about Camilla’s Christmas parties for seriously ill children. Such a magical experience for them all.

I also enjoy when they wear meaningful jewellery/pieces of clothings. Like when Catherine wore a gifted pair of Issy earrings, made by the cousin of a teenage girl who committed suicide. She was gifted them by Issy’s mum and chose to wear them on World Mental Health Day and at a SportsAid mental fitness workshop.

Apparently the “Kate Effect” helped sales to boom, and over £10,000 was raised for the charity that the company are paired with.

I feel like Meghan has done something similar too.

KCIII used to visit injured service personnel at QEII in Birmingham as did several other royals. KCIII not only came most frequently, his visits would run far longer than planned as he wanted to give the patients all the time they needed.

Margaret Tebbit was hurt in the Brighton(?) bomb explosion. She couldn't manage cutlery very well. She and Norman Tebbit were invited to a big meal, maybe a banquet. She was uneasy about it. I don't know how the Palace got to know. Maybe she said straight out. In the event, she went to the banquet. She was seated near Prince Philip. When the food came, he gave his knife and fork to the waiter and ate his food with his fingers so that she could do the same and feel comfortable about it. The article says the food was chosen to be suitable to eat like that.

I remember when Diana visited people with HIV and held their hands. At the time people were terrified of catching HIV thinking you got it from touching someone or them breathing on you. Those with HIV were stigmatized and isolated and it had a huge impact.

I remember Diana’s real, genuine connection towards HIV individuals. It was an absolute game changer regarding the stigmatising of people who had caught it. Diana’s behaviour, for me, was rooted in authenticity.

Meghan from 2011 to 2016 volunteered in soup kitchens in Toronto while filming Suits.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/toronto-charity-shares-unseen-photo-of-meghan-markle-volunteering-in-soup-kitchen-a4308076.html

I loved it when Kate saw her midwife and hugged her genuinely. I am so grateful to my midwives so I saw that in Kate - a lovely midwife who was there for her during one of the most special days of her life

When I was in Y7, Prince Phillip came to open our new library building at school. He spent the whole morning with us, and one of the things we did was put on a concert for him. My friend Lewis (who was a bit of a musical prodigy) played the French horn. Prince Phillip came and chatted with us afterwards and was really lovely.

When we were in Y9, Lewis died of leukemia. About a month after he died, we got a package delivered to school. It was a small rose bush, with a letter from Prince Phillip asking us to plant it in the garden near the library for him as a memorial for Lewis, and saying that he would never forget how beautifully he had played the horn. I've no idea how he found out, but it was such a touching gesture, and it meant the world to Lewis' mum (and all of us).

That’s so touching

What a lovely thread!

I remember many years ago, Diana met a little girl who had some physical difficulties, and talked to her and gave her a hug. The girl's mom said that if her daughter was good enough for the Princess of Wales, she was good enough for anybody. That's stuck with me all these years, Diana giving her and her daughter a boost in what was probably a hard road for them both.

Alastair Bruce of Sky News told a nice story when Prince Philip died. His Parents were living in Malta when they became engaged. On the evening of their engagement a few friends, including Prince Philip were in a taxi going home, and someone shared a box of chocolates. Prince Philip took a heart shaped chocolate, broke it in half and gave half each to the newly engaged couple.

I volunteer with someone who works on the crown estates. On his birthday, the king gave him a pill box with a miniature painting on it of one of his larger paintings. I thought that was a lovely thoughtful gesture.

There's a doctor who flies out to war zones. I think his name might be Dr David Nott. Anyway, he visited BP after just having returned from a particularly difficult time in Syria. HMQ asked him about it and he suddenly found himself tearing up and unable to respond. HMQ said let's go feed the dogs. So they spent some time just focusing on the dogs, not saying anything to each other and giving him the quiet time he needed to cope with his feelings. He said it was just what he needed. I thought that was lovely. I don't think I would have had the emotional intelligence to think of doing that and I consider myself quite an empathetic person.

I'm glad you put this one in. I remember it being mentioned and I was going to look up the details. You've saved me having to do that.

A lovely thread with so many lovely stories.
AFAIR it wasn't a journalist who spotted Catherine at the Sarah Everhard memorial but a member of the public who took the photo and shared it on SM, where the media picked it up.
And it wasn't the evening memorial, but the informal afternoon where people were just placing flowers and spending a few moments. Which is what Catherine did. I believe she had a face mask on for some of it, but as it was outdoors masks weren't required if social distancing was observed. The afternoon was quieter so social distancing was much easier to maintain.

What a great thread. So many lovely stories so far. Catherine giving her remembrance poppy to this adorable little boy.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EKKMvoek9ro