With their royal titles and a home in Windsor, you probably wouldn’t imagine you have much in common with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. But, as Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealed yesterday, that assumption would be sorely mistaken. Because the royal children have a love for a film that you are likely a fan of, too.
Catherine paid a visit to Evelina London’s Children’s Hospital on Monday, chiefly to learn about advancements in patient care and the hospital’s plans for the future. While there, the Royal popped in to see the cardiac patients in the Edward Ward and the Galaxy outpatients unit, and spent time having heartwarming conversations with the children she met.
In one conversation, the Princess of Wales spoke to a 10-year-old boy named Ejran, who suffers from severe cardiac issues. She told Ejran: ‘It’s very nice to meet you. I have come to see all the amazing work that’s going on here and meet very special and brave children like yourself.’ Ejran admitted that he was yet to make any friends on the ward, to which Kate reassuringly responded: ‘Maybe you will do. Maybe they haven’t come along yet.’
The Royal was then told that Ejran had written a poem about the 2001 classic, Shrek, which prompted her to reveal that it’s one of her children’s favourite films. ‘My kiddies love Shrek,’ shared Catherine. ‘All the songs and the dancing… maybe next time you can take a copy [of the poem] and send it to me and I can write back to you. Would that be fun?’
Royals – they really are just like us, by which we mean enjoying the comedic value of an ogre entering the world of royalty. Let’s hope Catherine and the kids don’t feel Shrek’s King Harold and Queen Lillian are much like King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Catherine’s private secretary was spotted handing Ejran’s dad a business card with her contact details on, so it looks like she’ll stick to her word of reading the Shrek-themed poem. Perhaps she or the royal children might write one back. Might we suggest focusing in on one of the excellent Shrek sequels, such as Shrek Forever After? Or giving Puss In Boots a watch?
Anadolu
This was Catherine’s first visit to Evelina London’s Children’s Hospital since her own cancer diagnosis – she’s been a patron of the organisation since 2018. During the occasion, the royal met the children’s cancer specialists and learned more about a planned collaboration with experts from The Royal Marsden hospital, which is where the Princess underwent her own treatments for cancer. The hospitals, along with St George’s, want to create a cancer and blood and marrow transplant service called the Children’s Cancer Principal Treatment Centre, for which they’re aiming to raise £100 million towards.
Along with chatting about Shrek, Kate exchanged kind words with a number of the ward’s patients, meeting three-year-old Arjun’s Paw Patrol toys and blowing him kisses.
ALASTAIR GRANT
Arjun’s mum was full of praise for the royal, commenting: ‘It was absolutely amazing to meet Her Royal Highness. She was really interested in why Arjun has been admitted for so long, his progress and how we’re coping. She took the time to speak to us and made us feel very at ease. She even caught a flying kiss from Arjun at the end, which was lovely. It was a really special moment for our family.’
The royal wore a cream shirt dress with black buttons from a brand she’s worn frequently before, Suzannah London. Catherine accessorised the look with a new bracelet that was given to her by Princess Charlotte following the Three Peaks Challenge, as well as the same Kiki McDonough and Annoushka Pearls earrings that she wore in May 2015 on the steps of St Mary’s Hospital after giving birth to her daughter. The dress, too, is a rewear that you might remember from Catherine’s 2019 appearance at Wimbledon.