The Prince and Princess of Wales carried out their first engagements of the year in Merseyside, opening a new hospital and visiting a charity supporting mental health.
William and Catherine’s visit began at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, with the royal couple officially opening the facility during their visit. The couple toured the critical care unit, which can house up to 40 patients at full capacity.
Sarah Lawson, a critical care nurse who met the royal couple, said in a statement on the hospital’s website: “Today has been so special. I met The Prince of Wales over a video call nearly three years ago, so to get the chance to meet him in person has been amazing. Their Royal Highnesses were so genuinely interested in talking to us about staff wellbeing and mental health. Everyone was over the moon to meet them.”
William previously met virtually with Lawson and other NHS critical care nurses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to thank them for their work.
The royal couple also met with the Royal Liverpool University Hospital staff and nurses during their visit. “It was a great boost for colleagues at the Trust to meet Their Royal Highnesses and to share their experiences, especially at a time when staff continue to work under significant pressure,” said Sue Musson, the Hospital Chair, on the hospital’s website.
To officially open the hospital, the Prince and Princess unveiled a plaque in the atrium.
The royals did not comment on Prince Harry’s explosive memoir, but a patient who happened to be at the hospital for an appointment during their visit took the opportunity to tell William she stood behind him, saying, “Keep going Will, Scousers love you.” William replied, “I will do.”
Next, William and Catherine travelled to the Open Door Centre, which provides mental health support to young people living in Merseyside. The couple met with young people in the Oomoo music programme, which provides mental health support through music.
After being shown music and art therapies, Catherine said, “While everyone is talking about mental health a lot more now, often it has a negative association. This is really exciting because it makes it a positive conversation around mental health, something that normalises it so it changes the way we talk about it.”
One of the young people who met the couple told reporters, “They were really down to earth. I thought it was going to be stressful, but with Will and Kate it felt like I was being heard.”
Ella Holland, who works as Head of Development at the Open Door Centre, told reporters: “The visit has been incredible. They were more passionate about it than I thought they would be with their knowledge of the sector and knowledge of what needs to be done.
“I think, for us, them coming here this week just proves how much they care about the country and making change.”
