LONDON – Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton is following in MeghanMarkle’s footsteps by posting her own personal message and caption onInstagram.
Sharing several photos from the Royal couple’s trip to the SOS children’svillage in Lahore, which houses and supports over 150 young people, DuchessKate described her emotional visit. Sharing her own thoughts about theroyal tour of Pakistan, which she completed with husband Prince William,the Duchess of Cambridge wrote, “The community at the SOS Village is builtaround family — and the best possible family you could imagine — whereeveryone comes together to nurture, love and protect the children in theircare.”
She continued “These vulnerable children, many who have come throughtraumatic circumstances, are nurtured in this caring environment and areable to form these quality relationships that they so desperately need tothrive. — Catherine.”
ROYALS GIVEN FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were given friendship bracelets on anunexpected second visit to an orphanage in Lahore. William and Katereturned to the SOS Children’s Village in Lahore on the last day of theirtour, having already made the trip the day before, after they were forcedto stay overnight in the Punjab capital. The RAF Voyager plane carrying thecouple had to abort two landings in Islamabad on Thursday and turn back toLahore following a thunderstorm.
According to Royal sources, the Duchess was particularly keen to return tothe organisation, which provides support to more than 150 orphans inboarding houses. They met some young Pakistanis during the visit on Fridaymorning who have been supported by the village and now mentor some of itsyounger residents.
Among them was Saba Shahzadi, 28, who first came when she was eightfollowing the death of her grandmother. Ms Shahzadi, now a manager forNestle in Pakistan, who still acts as a mentor to the children, told thecouple she couldn’t “imagine what would happened if I hadn’t found SOS”.
“That nurturing of this place really comes through. It’s like an armwrapped around you,” the Duke said. “You have a network of friends here whoare your family to support you. That’s even better than normal life.”
Kate, who has focused her recent work on children’s early years, told them:“Some of the things I’ve been looking at back home are how best do yousupport children and what do they need to have a successful life.
“One, it’s about quality relationships and two, the environment. What’sgreat is that you have both here.”
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Referring to it being their second visit, Kate said she was “so glad wecame back to get the full picture”, while William replied: “I could feelthat there was more to talk about.”
The couple joined a group of children for an impromptu game of cricket,which saw the Duke hit a softball which landed on his wife’s neck. WhileKate laughed and feigned pain, the Duke told the children: “Ha! She’s mywife, so I can just about get away with it.”
After a brief turn at batting by the Duchess, the couple knelt on theground as a group of children tied friendship bracelets on each of theirwrists – a pink one for the Duchess and a blue one for the Duke.
“Thank you so much for the bracelet,” William said. “I won’t take it off.My children will wonder why I’m wearing it.”
The Royal couple also joined the children for an art group and knelt on thefloor to join in with the painting, where the Duke admitted: “I’m not verygood at art.”
While William helped to paint an octopus, Kate began drawing a palm tree,and said: “I’m really enjoying this, I do lots of drawing at home with mychildren. I have three: George, Charlotte and Louis – he’s a baby, he’s oneand a half.”
After the children mentioned England, the Duchess said: “You will have tocome and see us.”
