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Prince & Princess of Wales

The Duchess of Cambridge reunites with midwife who helped during Princess Charlotte’s birth

Around seven months pregnant with her third child, the Duchess of Cambridge reunited with a midwife who helped during the birth of Princess Charlotte.

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent was part of the crowd that watched on at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist (RCOG) when the Duchess was presented with a certificate to commemorate her new patronages of the Royal RCOG and the Nursing Now campaign that were announced this morning.

The Duchess greeted Professor Dunkley-Bent after with a hug and a quick conversation. She was one of the nurses that was photographed in uniform outside the Lindo Wing after Princess Charlotte’s birth.

On her way out, Kate mentioned to Professor Lesley Regan, president of the RCOG, that “It’s so great to see Jacqui as well.”

Later in the day, the Duchess visited St. Thomas’ Hospital to help launch the Nursing Now campaign, a campaign to promote nursing worldwide. It was a particularly special moment for Kate as both her grandmother and great-grandmother were nurses.

Olive Middleton, Kate’s great-grandmother, was a nurse during WWI working in a field hospital.

The Duchess was given a tour of the Snow Leopard Ward at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, a part of St. Thomas’, where she met Jamie Parson, a father of a 10-month-old baby being treated.

Parson recalled his conversation after: “I was saying, ‘Congratulations, best of luck with the third one.’ “She said, ‘William’s in denial,’ ”

Kate then sat in a roundtable discussion with a variety of nurses from different backgrounds to hear that impact the Nursing Now campaign could bring and what it means to be a nurse in this day and age.

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The Duchess of Cambridge even gave a short speech on the occasion: “This campaign means a lot to me personally. My great-grandmother and grandmother were both volunteer nurses,” she said.

“They would have learned first-hand from working with the Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Red Cross about the care and compassion that sometimes only nurses can provide.

“Your dedication and professionalism are awe-inspiring, I have been struck today by the enormous range of responsibilities that nurses have, not only in providing access to healthcare, but also in terms of providing a holistic approach to caring for our physical and mental health. You also promote good health and disease prevention.

“I would like to congratulate and thank all nurses everywhere on what you achieve on a daily basis. The difference you make should not go unrecognized.  I would also like to acknowledge the International Council of Nurses, the World Health Organization and the Burdett Trust for Nursing, who are playing key roles in ensuring the future of the profession.”