Kate Middleton delivers first speech, but media focus on blue dress
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, made her first public speech as a royal Monday in Ipswich at the opening of a facility called the Treehouse, part of East Anglia鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Hospices.
The hospice is one of several British charities or non profit groups, including the Scouts and the National Gallery, that the Dutchess has identified as the focus of her attention. 听
British media praised her speech Monday, for which the Duchess used notes but which she delivered slowly and clearly.听
听鈥淭he Duchess of Cambridge looked calm and confident as she gave her first public address today,鈥� . 鈥淜ate[鈥榮] three-minute speech was faultless -听 made with a slow but measured delivery.鈥�
听The Telegraph noted that the Duchess 鈥渁ppear[ed] understandably nervous at first,鈥� but that she 鈥渄elivered her maiden speech slowly and carefully, sticking precisely to her script, without any ad-libs.鈥�
It was reported that she.听
The speech made headlines in some British newspapers, including the Daily Mail and the Telegraph, for t, which reporters noted is one she bought in 2008 and appeared to be the same one worn by her mother in 2010 when Carole Middleton went to Ascot. The British media has been fascinated by Kate Middleton's, and her sister Pippa's, fashion choices.听
听During the Duchess鈥檚 speech, she said she regretted the absence of her husband, Prince William, who is finishing military training in the Falkland Islands.
听鈥淲hat you have all achieved here is extraordinary," the Duchess said during her speech. "You as a community have built the Treehouse -- a group of people who have made every effort to support and help each other.鈥�
听She noted the support the Treehouse and other East Anglia Children鈥檚 Hospices (EACH) facilities offer for families.
听鈥�For many this is a home from home听- a听lifeline听enabling families to live as normally as possible during a very precious听period of听time,鈥� the Duchess said.
The Duchess is the royal patron of the Hospices, which helps families with children who have a life-endangering sickness. The organization provides therapy for the children, support for parents and family members and other services, offered at their centers or in the family鈥檚 home. The Treehouse will be the service center for Suffolk and Essex.
During her visit, she received a tour of the building and met children and their families who receive services from EACH, including 10-year-old Bethany Woods, who has been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Woods performed the song 鈥淩ainbow Connection鈥� for the Duchess, who congratulated Woods after her rendition, according to the Daily Mail.
听A reception was held for EACH staff members and those who have supported the organization. According to the Daily Mail, the Duchess told another person attending the reception, 鈥淚 find doing speeches nerve-wracking.鈥�
听She also planted a tree at the facility in commemoration of her visit.
The Duchess has been the royal patron of EACH since January and is also a supporter of the Scouts organization, planning to attend camps with the Girl Scout troops in north Wales and London and assist with games. The royal family has traditionally been a supporter of the Scouts, and Queen Elizabeth serves as the association鈥檚 current president. The Duke of Kent, the queen鈥檚 cousin, is its patron.
听The Duchess also serves as a patron for the National Gallery, the organization Action Through Addiction, which helps those with a drug addiction and their loved ones, and the Art Room, a charity which attempts to help children鈥檚 self-image through art.
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