The Duchess of Cambridge embraced mum Leigh Smith after hearing her heartbreaking story of the tragic death of her 3-month-old daughter Beatrice
A tearful Duchess of Cambridge shared an emotional hug with a bereaved mother today at the launch of a hospice appeal.
Pregnant Kate embraced mum Leigh Smith after hearing her heartbreaking story of the tragic death of her three-month-old daughter Beatrice.
The overwhelmed Duchess, who is four months pregnant with her second child, told her: "You're a very brave lady and again, I'm just so so sorry."
Looking blooming in a red Katherine Hooker dress and black suede Jimmy Choo shoes, Kate was the guest of honour at the appeal by her charity East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) to raise £10 million to build new Norfolk hospice 'the nook'.
Mum Leigh, 33, wrote to Kate in March after EACH helped her when Beatrice died in February this year, having been born with rare heart condition cardiomyopathy.
She received a heartfelt reply from the Duchess.
Leigh told her emotional bereavement story in front of Kate and 700 guests yesterday at the Norfolk Showground and afterwards Kate made a beeline for her and gave her a hug.
Recap on today's visit as it happened here:
Leigh said: "Kate sought me out and gave me a hug just before she left.
"I was getting quite teary-eyed, she had tears in her eyes and she
just said to me 'You're a very brave lady and again, I'm just so so
sorry."
Leigh, a physiotherapist from Norwich, added: "I wrote to Kate after
Beatrice's death to tell her about the amazing support I'd received
from EACH.
"She wrote a personal letter back to me saying what an honour it was
to hear my story.
"I thought that was so lovely as obviously it was such an honour to
hear back from her.
"She said she was very touched to hear Beatrice's story.
"Beatrice would have been one this Friday - she was born on 28 Nov
2013 - and I had mixed emotions.
"But the launch today is a wonderful way to celebrate her life.
"I just want to do Beatrice proud.
"You can't put a price on what EACH have given to every one of us.
"After a long night holding Beatrice in my arms she passed away on 24
February this year.
"EACH made arrangements for Beatrice to travel home to Norfolk and we
met her at Quidenham Hospice.
Watch next
Watch Next
"She arrived in a Moses basket and and had her own room with her name on the door and was cared for with such
respect and dignity.
"Her daddy Toby and I spent some time telling her all the things we
wanted to say.
"It was also so helpful for her older brother Elliott, four, to come to terms with what had happened."
Kate also held the hand of Jack Cottis, six, who is blind and wheelchair-bound with an undiagnosed genetic condition which affects all his development.
Mum Tracy Cottis, a civil servant from Colchester, said: "Kate was very gentle and very good with Jack - he reached out his hand to her and she very naturally just took it and stroked it."
Kate, 32, also stopped to look at a new range of Emma Bridgewater pottery, whose sale will raise money for the appeal.
She even helped design the 1/2 pint mugs from the 'Insects and Flowers' range - £5 of every sale will go the appeal when they go on sale next March.
A royal aide said: "The Duchess really wanted to get involved in the actual money raising and knew that Emma had done previous projects to help charities.
Watch pregnant Kate attending a charity dinner:
"It was her idea to approach Emma, whom she didn't know previously, and she helped in the design process."
As Kate approached the stand and saw the finished product, she said: "Look at them - aren't they brilliant! I'm so pleased, they look fantastic."
Emma asked her if she wanted to pick up one of the giant teapots.
Kate replied: "Pick it up? I'll probably end up dropping it! It holds 16 cups of tea? Wow."
The Duchess then went into the hall to watch the official launch of EACH's £10million appeal.
The 100 tables were all named after the most popular children's names - and Kate's table was named after her son George.
