The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge together with The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Stanford Hall and met patients and staff in Leicestershire.
Today The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, together with The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre @dms_dmrc, to meet patients and staff. pic.twitter.com/jnkDCuQ97e
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) February 11, 2020
This is the first time when four of them are undertaking an engagement together since William and Catherine’s marriage.
You must remember Catherine joined Charles, William and Camilla for Gary Barlow’s concert in aid of The Prince’s Trust and The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry before her marriage in 2011.
William and Catherine have joined Charles in past for engagements. The trio visited the Dumfries House on March 05, 2013, in Ayrshire, Scotland where Charles has led a regeneration project since 2007.
Catherine has undertaken a joint engagement with Queen and Camilla on March 01, 2012, to visit luxury store Fortnum and Mason to mark rejuvenation efforts in the area. They visited luxury store Fortnum and Mason to mark rejuvenation efforts in the area. Catherine also joined Prince Charles for the first time for engagement on March 15, 2012, with Duchess of Cornwall at Dulwich Picture Gallery.
On arrival, Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed by Captain Alison Hofman QARNNS, Commanding Officer of the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) and will be taken on a tour of the site. The royals cracked a few jokes about all of them being in one place. From The Telegraph:’s report
‘Logistically, the royals admitted, it was something of a challenge. “There’s too many of us!” said Prince Charles, telling watching reporters he hoped their shorthand was up to scratch “with so many of us running around”. It is bad enough with just two visitors, Prince William joked. “When there’s four of us it’s a nightmare.”
The new Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, known as ‘DMRC Stanford Hall’, is operated by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and began admitting patients in October 2018. The Centre delivers in-patient and residential rehabilitation to serving members of the Armed Forces for complex musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, including complex trauma, rehabilitation following neurological injury or illness and in-patient care for the joint and soft-tissue disease.
Clarence House
It also provides education, research and training in military rehabilitation, hosting both the Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation and the Joint School of Exercise Rehabilitation Instructors. The DMRC currently provides services to a small group of veterans in the form of the Complex Prosthetic Assessment Clinic (CPAC), which is a joint MOD and NHS England commissioned outpatient clinic.
The project was the idea of Royal Family’s closest ally the late Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster. The Duke of Grosvenor was Prince Charles’s close friend. His wife Natalia is William’s Godmother. Gerald’s son Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster, is the Godfather of William and Catherine’s eldest son Prince George. The late Duke led the £300m fundraising drive with a personal gift of £70m. Unfortunately, the Duke passed away in 2016 and is not here today to see the project coming to reality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjOuD7o6Bjc
More from DMRC,
The idea of creating a 21st century version of the existing Defence rehab centre, Headley Court in Surrey, in a new location to serve the future needs of serving members of the Armed Forces came from the 6th Duke of Westminster.
He raised it in the MoD in the late summer of 2008 with the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff for whom he was working at that time as the senior reservist in Defence as a Major General. The Duke had served in the Reserve Army for 40 years and knew, first hand, the high price that members of the Armed Forces can pay for serving the nation. He wanted to do something about it and ensure that seriously injured sailors, soldiers and members of the RAF would feel looked after and get the best possible care.
The idea was subsequently discussed with the Defence Secretary (Des, now Lord, Browne) who supported the Duke’s idea but asked whether he could at the same time ‘do something for the nation too’. This was put to the Duke who agreed.
Meetings followed in the Vice Chief’s office involving Dame Carol Black (then the Government’s adviser at DWP), the Surgeon General and Arup. They examined the basic feasibility of what was being proposed in terms of the clinical rehabilitation field of medicine.
The notion of a Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) programme was devised and put to the Duke at the end of 2008. In 2009 it was developed with the other government departments and was put to Parliament in a written Ministerial Statement in June 2009. That statement heralded the start of a year-long study in 2010, funded by the Duke, to examine the concept across government in detail.
DMRC Stanford Hall is part of the overall Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) programme which includes both a Defence element and proposals for a National (NHS) facility on the same site, sharing knowledge, expertise and some specialist facilities with the Defence establishment to mutual advantage. The Duke of Cambridge, who was Patron of the DNRC appeal, attended the official handover of the newly built Defence centre to the nation in June 2018. The National facility is progressing through a business case process which could see the facility operating in 2023, subject to relevant approvals.
The tour included visiting some of the therapy areas and observing patients undertaking gym rehabilitation sessions.
Prince William tried his hand at wheelchair basketball.
Lovely father and son moment for William and Charles at the defence rehab centre in Notts. pic.twitter.com/NLYpmNNYxy
— Valentine Low (@valentinelow) February 11, 2020
A lovely video where Prince Charles gave his son a push to make a goal.
Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Prince William and Duchess Catherine also visited the Prosthetics workshop and heard from patients and staff about the range of multi-disciplinary clinical and therapy services available. From DailyMail’s report,
William also spent time talking to Emma Lumb, 25, from Barnsley, who served in the Royal Logistics Corps, and was paralysed from the neck downwards in a car accident last March. She was holding her son Lucus Murgatroyd, four, on her lap.
He asked her, ‘ Do you notice a difference [here]? Is it different being here as opposed to a civilian hospital? Do you stay here permanently? He also asked her: ‘Is it important to be able to speak about stuff?’
Speaking afterwards Emma said:, ‘It makes a massive difference. You feel you are with your family, surrounded by the guys and the banter. Don’t get me wrong, the NHS was brilliant when I had my accident. I couldn’t have had better treatment. I can’t fault it. But when you are in the army you are part of a very special family and moving forwards it is a better place for me to be. The staff here are so fantastic and they understand what it means to me.’
The Royal couples then joined a reception for staff and patients before unveiling a plaque to mark the visit. Prince William was the patron of the DNRC appeal and attended the official handover of the newly built defence centre to the nation in June 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI-BkbOMjLA
Charles and Camilla are going to undertake a few more engagements in the city while William and Catherine will be heading back to London.
Now to what Duchess wore – Paying tribute to her the most favourite designer Alexander McQueen, who died on this day 10 years ago, Duchess chose a navy military-style number from her wedding dress label.
The ensemble consists of a navy military-inspired jacket. The structured jacket features shirt style collars, peplum style waistline adorned with gold-tone buttons. The style was based on the black jacket shown here.
The Duchess paired the jacket with matching Alexander McQueen Military Inspired Long Skirt (Shown here in black). The skirt features a pleated bottom. The $1517 skirt was described as, “Military-inspired peplum midi skirt in light wool-silk. Metal mythical decorated buttons on the waist. Invisible zipper on centre back.“
Catherine was carrying Alexander McQueen black Wicca mini satchel in smooth black leather. Thanks to HeavenQRF for three quick ids. Duchess owns the Alexander McQueen Wicca Mini Satchel in white and Alexander McQueen Wicca Mini Clutch in Raffia bag.
The Duchess of Cambridge wore her Ralph Lauren Collection Black Suede High Heel Boot.
Her Mappin & Webb Empress earrings finished the look.
Princess Eugenie
This week has started with some big news on the royal front. On a positive note, Palace announced that Princess Beatrice will marry Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on Friday 29 May at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace in London where Prince George and Prince Louis were christened. I do not expect the wedding to be telecast but we might get some beautiful pictures.
On the sad news, Dan Watoon the Sun journalist reported that Queen’s eldest Grandson Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne is separating from his wife Autumn Phillips. This was the most shocking news of 2020. The couple always looked so lovely and had two absolutely adorable little girls. I am saddened for the family and girls but wish them the very best. It is reported that the couple told the Queen some months ago following a long period of discussions. Their wedding was a big milestone in Catherine’s life too as she met Her Majesty for the first time at this wedding. The statement was released by the couple stating,
“After informing HM The Queen and members of both families last year, Peter and Autumn jointly agreed to separate. They had reached the conclusion that this was the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship.
The decision to divorce and share custody came about after many months of discussions and although sad, is an amicable one. The couples first priority will remain the continued well being and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah (9) and Isla (7). Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co parent their children.
Both Peter and Autumn will remain in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years. Peter & Autumn have requested privacy and compassion for their children while the family continues to adapt to these changes.”
Kensington Palace announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Ireland between Tuesday 3rd March and Thursday 5th March, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Australian Media is reporting that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has formally invited the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit the bushfire-ravaged towns of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The tour is being planned in order to support victims of the bushfires and meet local heroes. Kensington Palace has not confirmed any details but we might hear something by the end of the week. William and Catherine last visited the country together in April 2014. From Sunday Morning Herald,
Prince William and his wife Catherine are set to visit bushfire-ravaged Australian coastal towns during a special royal visit that will spur more international financial support for survivors and volunteer firefighters.
Preliminary negotiations between the Morrison government and Kensington Palace – the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official household – have been underway for weeks and Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected this week to issue the formal invitation needed to clear the way for the tour.
The trip will be William’s fifth visit to Australia and the pair’s first since 2014. William, second in line to the throne after his father Charles, toured flood-stricken Queensland and Victoria on behalf of the royal family in 2011.
The couple has been distressed by the death toll, destruction of thousands of homes and widespread loss of flora and fauna during the summer disaster. They quickly expressed interest in visiting but did not want to divert resources to a royal tour in the immediate aftermath of the emergency.
They are expected to visit NSW and Victoria, however, planning is not finalised and other states including South Australia may be added.
