Prince William and Kate Middleton to Visit Famine-Stricken Kenya
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has said she plans on visiting famine-stricken Kenya “soon.”
In her first interview since marrying Prince William, Middleton stressed the need of monetary donations to help appease the “terrible crisis,” according to The Telegraph.
Middleton, visiting a UNICEF aid depot in Copenhagen, Denmark, said, “It’s really just how shocking the situation still is. It has been 100 days and it’s still going on. A huge amount still needs to be done. At the moment, hundreds of children are still malnourished.”
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She added, “We need to try and raise the awareness.”
Prince William has also spoken out about the dire situation in Eastern Africa, according to The Telegraph.
“It’s very much a case of anyone who can do anything to help, please do,” he said.
UNICEF worker Isaac Maina told the paper, “The Duchess told me they are going back to Kenya soon.”
According to a royal source, Prince William and Kate are considering a visit to Africa.
“It may be some time before they could fit it into their schedule, but it certainly isn’t being ruled out,” said the source.
The royal couple has made a five-figure donation to the famine crisis through their charitable foundation, The Telegraph reported.
This is one of many charitable efforts supported by the couple. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge opened a children’s cancer center, the Royal Marsden, in September. And Prince William has followed his mother, Princess Diana's lead, taking up her position as president of the British hospital.
Middleton, in what the London Evening Standard deemed her first personal act of charity, wrote a letter of support to one of the young patients receiving treatment at the hospital.
The Duchess of Cambridge sent a heartfelt note to Fabian Bate, who is battling leukemia. Middleton said she was touched by the 9-year-old's “strength of character.”
The letter, dated Oct. 13, was written on St. James’ Palace letterhead and signed “Catherine.”
"Despite the enormously demanding course of treatment you are undergoing, I was so touched by your strength of character and delighted to hear the news that one of your big sisters will be able to donate bone marrow to you later this year," Middleton wrote. "I will keep my fingers crossed that your health goes from strength to strength over the months ahead."
She added, "This must be a troubling time for you, your parents and your sisters, but I know I left the Royal Marsden assured by how incredibly talented, kind and clever the team at the hospital are. Combined with your belief and positive energy, you couldn't be in better hands."
Bate’s family was shocked when the Duchess’ letter arrived at their home.
"It was a very personal letter. It certainly didn't look like the standard templates these official letters so often use,” Bate’s father, Darrell, told the paper. “It contained very specific information that she must have remembered.”
“We were very touched as she must do a lot of this stuff and to remember Fabian is very moving," he added.
Bate was first diagnosed in 2006 with leukemia. However, it wasn’t until July 2011 that the disease returned. Bate is scheduled to receive a bone marrow transplant from one of his two older sisters in December, according to the Evening Standard.
