As a national lockdown continues in the United Kingdom amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are conducting all of their official royal engagements remotely.
On January 13, Kate Middleton and Prince William took part in a Zoom call with staff from Hospice UK’s Just "B" counselling and bereavement support line. Duchess Kate and Prince William spoke with counsellors and frontline healthcare workers about how the service has been supporting those in need throughout the pandemic.
As noted by the Kate Middleton Style blog, the Duchess of Cambridge rewore her Smythe "Glen check" two-button blazer for the engagement. She accessorized the sleek item with a pair of Kiki McDonough's cushion drop earrings. The duchess previously wore the chic blazer during a visit to the Coach Core organization in Essex in 2018.
The duke and duchess's Royal Foundation has provided financial support to a number of charities and organizations during the pandemic via its COVID-19 Response Fund. Through a partnership with National Health Service England, and the Department of Health and Social Care, The Royal Foundation has helped to fund the Just "B" support line, which offers a plethora of services including "confidential, free to access bereavement and wellbeing support related to anxiety, trauma and the impact of encountering a significant number of deaths, in addition to support for personal bereavement and loss," per a press release.
Sharing the engagement on social media, the official Kensington Palace Instagram account wrote, "Bereavement is never easy, especially for frontline workers during these unprecedented times. It is so important to have services like Just 'B', who provide a listening ear for those coping with the loss of colleagues, loved ones, and people they care for."
Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.
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