The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talked to the staff at the Fraser Health’s Surrey Memorial Hospital in British Columbia to mark Canada Day. The Royal couple held a zoom call with the staff last week on Tuesday from their country residence Anmer Hall. William and Catherine thanked frontline workers across the country for their efforts in helping to protect and support their communities during COVID-19 pandemic. Fraser Health is one of the five regional health authorities in the province, delivering hospital and community-based health services to over 1.8 million people.
The Duke and Duchess heard from the staff of the Hospital about their experiences working to combat the Covid-19 outbreak, and the unique challenges of providing care throughout the outbreak, including the impact on staff, patients and their families. Sharing the video, Palace said, “On Canada Day we say thank you to frontline workers across the country for your amazing work protecting and supporting your communities (À l’occasion de la fête du Canada, nous remercions Les travailleurs de première ligne à travers tout le pays pour votre travail extraordinaire de protection et de soutien de vos collectivités.)”.
The video began with Duke asking “Are you staring shifts or finishing shifts?” Duchess told the staff that she and William would love to hear about their experiences and struggles during the pandemic. She said she has ‘huge admiration’ for “everything they are doing” and talked about mental health.
Head of the hospital’s critical care and regional Medical Director for Research for Fraser Health, Dr Gregory Haljan, said, “We’ve made it through the surge and now we’re into the recovery phase where we’re trying to take stock of all our stories and what we’ve been through and find the meaning in everything we’ve lost and everything we’ve gained so we can build some resilience for whatever comes next”.
Staff told them about the mental health care they have been provided to patients and the same they received at the hospital and from co-workers. It has helped them mentally and emotionally. The Work-family environment they had in the workplace. From Daily Mail,
Kate added: ‘It’s an amazing role that you’re playing and a hugely tough one as well, so we’re in huge admiration for everything you’re doing.’
The duchess described it as ‘heartbreaking’ when she heard that a patient’s wife had sung to him from a phone held in a bag as staff did their utmost to keep loved ones connected during the crisis.
Kate said: ‘That’s heartbreaking to hear. You guys see that and feel that on a daily basis. How do you manage yourself? Are you all OK?’
The Royal couple talked to a pregnant staff member Sandeep “Sunny” Dulai. Talking about her experience during pandemic Sunny said,
Initially, I was like, no, I can do this, emotionally, it wasn’t really impacting me. Then, as I got later in my pregnancy and the more the pandemic started to move along, it really did impact my mental health. I felt like I was angrier because I didn’t have the support networks at home that I typically have.
I have three siblings and not being able to physically interact with them became challenging. But, I never once felt that I needed to stop working where I work, because of the support I got from my team.
William and Catherine praised the staff for their fantastic efforts. Concluding the call, Duke said,
I just wanted to just touch base and say how proud we are of all of you and everyone on the front line who have led the way, very stoically, very bravely and put patient care right at the top of the list, and done a fantastic job.
So, well done to all of you, and I hope Catherine and I can come and visit you guys one day and say that to you in person.
Duchess wished Sunny, “Good luck, Sunny, going forward with your new baby“.
“Their thoughtful questions about our experiences gave us a tremendous sense of pride in what our colleagues, patients, and families have worked so hard to achieve under such pressure.”
– Dr. Gregory Haljan, on speaking with @KensingtonRoyal https://t.co/P1Gi7LEtTU— Fraser Health (@Fraserhealth) July 1, 2020
Canada Day, observed on July 1st every year, is a national holiday marking the anniversary of Confederation in 1867 when the British North America Act came into effect which united the three separate colonies of the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a single Dominion as a British realm. It was originally known as Dominion Day until it was renamed in 1982.
Canada holds very special memories for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Catherine, undertook their first overseas tour after their wedding to Canada in June-July 2011.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Canada Day celebrations in 2011. They were the first royals to attend an oath ceremony in Canada.
After six years, The Royal Couple returned to Canada, this time with their two adorable kids – Prince George and Princess Charlotte. It was Charlotte’s first overseas visit.
During the second tour, William and Catherine brought Prince George and Princess Charlotte to a party for military families where children excitedly played with bubbles and balloon animals.
The Duchess of Cambridge chose a red and white outfit for the video call – a colour combination of Canada’s National Flag. The Duchess wore bespoke red tweed Alexander McQueen dress. Thanks to Laura on Twitter for the id.
The dress looks like a bespoke version of Alexander McQueen short-sleeved shift dress. The tweed and boucle-effect fabrics dress features a jewel neckline and a fitted silhouette with structured shoulders.
Earlier this week, The Duchess of Cambridge narrated a video for Wimbledon. This year’s tennis championship was postponed due to the COVID19 and the video marked what was supposed to be Day one of the tournament.
Today is also Lady Diana, Princess of Wales’ 59th Birthday.
I wish all the fellow Canadians a very Happy Canada Day.