Lockdown continues, and the coronavirus pandemic continues. Since my last blog post about how the royals are working during this time, the British Royal Family have continued to encourage charities and frontline workers, and strengthen communities. They have marked occasions such as World Bee Day and Mental Health Awareness Week, that have shown a streak of normality amongst the strange times we find ourselves in.
There really is no other place to start apart from the National and Commonwealth VE Day Anniversary celebrations. The Royal Family took part in leading the 75th Anniversary since Victory in Europe Day, that marked the end of the second world war on Europe. For a full report, read our two blog posts elsewhere on this site!
This week I am starting with the lesser known, but no-less-hard-working royals. I am an admirer of the Earl and Countess of Wessex for their commitment to duty, and humility with which they carry out their roles. They always do the right thing, and show full energy and commitment to their work, albeit less well-known than some of the other royals’ work. The Countess worked with foodbank charity The Lighthouse, working alongside volunteers to pack emergency food parcels. She chatted to staff and volunteers about the work the charity is doing to support communities at this time. The Countess also officially opened NHS Nightingale in the North East of England, in Sunderland, via video message. Sophie wrote to Women’s Institute members via the WI monthly magazine, thanking them for the part they are playing during lockdown. She wrote, “Just as the WI played its part in the war effort in the 1940s, I know that in the weeks and months ahead you will make a remarkable contribution to the home effort. Thank you all for stepping up and showing yet again that our women are the heart and soul of this beautiful country.” The Countess is a member of her local WI, Bagshot, and was due to attend the Annual General Meeting of the WI in June. The Queen is President of Sandringham WI, and Princess Anne is Associate Member. I think it is great that the royals can be part of institutions like these, and mix with the local residents around their homes. I think it helps them understand everyday, normal life.
The Princess Royal, Anne, officially opened the NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow, via video message. She thanked the staff who constructed it and now work there. Her Royal Highness also marked the International Day of the Midwife, with a video, in her role as Patron of The Royal College of Midwives. She said, “You have supported each other as colleagues and as friends, and, in these difficult times, you have shown great care and compassion. That will be what the women in your care will remember for years to come.”
Here is the highlight of the latest work of the royals, in my opinion. The Prince led a video with contributions from his mother, the Queen, his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, his son and daughter-in-law the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, his sister Princess Anne, and his sister-in-law the Countess of Wessex, to mark International Nurses Day. Members of the royal family spoke via video call to nurses from across the world, to offer their thanks and encouragement, and find out how they are doing at this time. I think it was marvellous to see the royals all working together on this, and added an element of honour and respect to the day, and highlighted the importance of the work of nurses and midwives, and careworkers. How great to see unity in the royal family, and working together, giving a greater message that during this worldwide crisis, it is more important than ever that we all work together.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have been as busy as ever. They wrote to around 90,000 postal staff at Royal Mail, saying, “Today, as many people - ourselves included - are obliged to stay at home, Royal Mail plays an absolutely vital role in keeping family and friends in touch with one another. For that, we can only say how deeply grateful we are and send you our kindest wishes.” The couple’s letter was collected by their local postman from their Birkhall home, observing social distancing. As Royal Patron of Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity since 2017, the Duchess marked International Nurses Day with a video message to Roald Dahl’s Specialist Nurses. She also thanked Naval Nurses who have been redeployed to NHS hospitals during the pandemic, in her role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Medical Services.
The Duchess has for a long time raised awareness of Domestic Violence and Abuse, and added her support to an article in You Magazine to raise further awareness, by the charity SafeLives. She said, “SafeLives provides a lifeline to women, men and children who are suffering, or who have suffered, from domestic abuse. When I first visited them several years ago, I listened to the harrowing stories from these remarkably brave women and I knew that I wanted to do something to help... I very much hope that, after reading their stories, you will want to help too. During these exceptional times, it is even more important that we all look out for each other. If you think someone you know might be at risk, then please follow the advice from SafeLives and ‘reach in’. It really could make all the difference.” I think it is excellent that the royals can work on specific areas and give a voice where it is needed. It helps those who feel unheard, ashamed, or insignificant to feel heard and seen and known.
The Duchess is also patron of Medical Detection Dogs, and gave her support and thanks for the funding that has enables new dogs to train in detecting the smell of covid-19. As new patron of Bees for Development, on World Bee Day the Duchess took part in a video. The Duchess is a beekeeper herself, owning 9 hives, and each year the honey harvested is sold for charity through Fortnum and Mason. This year the money raised will go to Bees for Development.
The Prince of Wales, as patron of The Scottish Highland Games Association, voiced his sympathies that the games were cancelled this year. He also voiced his support via a video message, for the Pick for Britain campaign, that see’s anyone who is healthy and not working, encouraged to help pick the harvest this year. The Prince said, “I do not doubt that the work will be unglamorous and, at times, challenging. But it is of the utmost importance and, at the height of this global pandemic, you will be making a vital contribution to the National effort.”
The extended royal family are also working hard. As patron of Asthma UK, the Duchess of Gloucester had a phone call with the charity’s keyworkers to encourage them during a difficult time, as Covid-19 affects the airways and lungs. Princess Alexandra marked the 55th anniversary of the opening of the Princess Alexandra Hospital, thanking all NHS staff for their work at this time. Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have been helping pack boxes for the Salvation Army, to send to their food banks.
On what would have been the start of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, attended every year by the Queen (Patron of the RHS) and other members of the Royal Family. The Queen sent this message to all those associated with the RHS, “My family and I have always enjoyed visiting the Show, and I know that your Members and Supporters will be disappointed that they are unable to attend in person this year. I am sure that my grandmother, Queen Mary, who first attended the Chelsea Flower Show in 1916, would be delighted that many people today have an enthusiasm for horticulture, and that gardening remains a popular past time in the United Kingdom.” This year it is happening virtually. Members of the royal family posted photos of the flowers in the gardens, online, for all to enjoy! The Queen also had to cancel her planned annual Garden Parties. All guests who were due to come, will instead be invited to the Garden Parties in 2021. See our blog posts on previous years’ Garden Parties for more information about these, elsewhere on this site!
There have been some recent royal birthdays, including Princess Charlotte’s 5th birthday on 2nd May. Several photos were released by her parents to mark the occasion, all taken by the Duchess of Cambridge. They showed the young princess helping pack up and deliver food parcels to local pensioners, near the family’s country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk. I think the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are striking a very good balance between shielding their children from the public eye, allowing them to have as normal and carefree a childhood as possible, but also introducing them to the reality of life as a working royal. These birthday portraits are always so lovely to see! The children are so natural in them, as their mother is often the photographer! Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, turned 1 on 6th May. The couple released a video of the Duchess reading her son a book.
Our last royals to report on are the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Duchess marked the UK’s Maternal Mental Health Week with a video, during which she spoke to midwives, health visitors, parents and leading sector experts, via video call, and met a couple who had just had a baby! She discussed the effects of Covid-19 on their lives and work. As patron of the National Portrait Gallery, the Duchess launched the Hold Still project, which invites members of the public to submit photos taken during lockdown, that capture the experience of the pandemic. 100 will be selected for an online gallery.
The Duke and Duchess took part in a video with other well known faces to launch the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, and took part in the Mental Health Minute. This was part of their Heads Together Campaign, that the couple continue to lead. I think their commitment to the cause shows their dedication and focus. During this time, mental health awareness has never had more significance. The Duke also continues to highlight the work of the National Emergencies Trust, of which he is patron. Recently, he spoke via video call to staff from Peek Project, who help prepare and deliver food where it is needed, and are based in Glasgow.
All in all, the royals continue to work hard!