The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge marked the Burns nights with a message to frontline workers at the Intensive Care and High Dependency Units at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee at NHS Tayside. Prince William and Duchess Catherine thanked them for their work and wished them well on Burns Night sent Burns celebration lunch of haggis, neeps, and tatties along with special gifts boxes assembled from stuff donated by Royal Warrant Holders Valvona & Crolla and Fisher and Donaldson.
Prince William and Duchess Catherine, who are known as The Earl and Countess of Strathearn in Scotland, teamed up with NHS Charities Together & Tayside Health Fund to treat staff treating coronavirus patients at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sent the video message as the Patron of NHS Charities Together. The staff is working continuously serving coronavirus patients since the breakout of the virus.
William and Catherine became the joint patron of the NHS Charities Together in December 2020 during the Royal Train Tour when they visited Edinburgh. There are more than 240 NHS charities across the UK and most of them focus on helping the hospitals to do more. Collectively these charities give £1 million every day to the NHS so that people can stay well for longer and get better faster. In recent years NHS charities have funded major capital projects, pioneering research and medical equipment at our hospitals, helping patients access the best possible care when they need it most.
A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of Scotland’s ‘National Bard’ – Robert Burns. Burns Night is annually celebrated in Scotland on or around January 25. The day also celebrates Burns’ contribution to Scottish culture. Robert Burns was born in 1759 and his work is celebrated all around Scotland.
Speaking to the staff in the video message that was played over lunchtime to a multi-disciplinary Covid-19 response team, The Duke of Cambridge said, “Hello to everyone at NHS Tayside. We know Burns Night is a special evening for Scots around the world – a time to come together to eat, drink and to celebrate the life and work of Robert Burns. We want to say a huge thank you for all of the work you are doing and the sacrifices you are making. As a token of our appreciation, we’ve teamed up with NHS Charities Together to provide you with a Haggis dinner.“
Edinburgh-based food and wine emporium Valvona & Crolla, and the Fisher & Donaldson bakery in Cupar, Fife, donated Burns Biscuits and gift boxes to the staff at the request of Kensington Palace. The Duchess of Cambridge said,
Sadly this year is a little different. And for many of you working on the frontline, tonight will be a very different occasion, as you work tirelessly through this pandemic to protect the most vulnerable in our society…. We hope you enjoy it, and look forward to better times together soon.
Grant Archibald, NHS Tayside chief executive, said, “Our staff has now been at the frontline in our response to Covid-19 for more than 300 days and their dedication has been truly awe-inspiring. It means so much to all of our teams across Angus, Dundee, and Perth & Kinross to receive this special message of appreciation today which underlines the ongoing, extraordinary efforts of Team Tayside.”
Scotland holds a special place in the life of Prince William and Duchess Catherine. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met in 2011 when they both were students at St. Andrews University in Scotland. The couple spent 4 years together in the highlands away from the prying eyes and build a solid foundation for their relationship.
The Royal Family’s Social Media page also marked the Scottish annual event with pictures of Scotland and lines from Burns’ poem My Heart’s In The Highlands. While Prince Charles shared a video reciting some of the words to Burns’ song Auld Lang Syne. And The Duchess of Cornwall also read a verse from My Heart’s In The Highlands in a video message for the University of Aberdeen’s virtual Extraordinary Burns Supper event, in her role as the institution’s chancellor.
For the video message, the was recorded at The Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, The Duchess of Cambridge brought back one of her festive looks. Catherine was wearing her Emilia Wickstead Anni Tartan Georgette Midi Dress.
Now the fun part of this outfit is, the tartan number could be a combo of top and skirt or a midi dress but we will never be sure until we see the outfit in one full picture, but until then I am going to assume it’s a dress. Catherine was seen wearing either the dress or the top at 2019’s Pre – Christmas Luncheon hosted by the Queen.
In 2018, The Duchess of Cambridge wore Emilia Wickstead Pris Pleated Tartan Flannel Skirt at the Christmas party she and William hosted at Kensington Palace for the families of Military personnel deployed in Cyprus.
We recently saw the skirt back again during the Royal Train Tour in December 2020 when The Duchess of Cambridge also wore a matching Scarf and Face mask.
Today, The Duchess of Cambridge paired the outfit with her Simone Rocha Faux-pearl curb-chain earrings
In other news, The DailyMail revealed that Catherine’s brother James Middleton gifted the Cambridge family with an eight-month-old black cocker spaniel who is the family’s late dog Lupo’s nephew. The new addition to the family was brought with a thought that a younger dog would give Lupo some company and give him a little more life and energy.’ Lupo dies late last year.