Advertisement

The Duchess of Cambridge shares a rare old family photo to celebrate the British Red Cross

Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images
Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

This week marks the 150th anniversary of the British Red Cross, and the royal family is pulling out all the stops to celebrate (in a socially distanced manner, of course). While the Queen, Prince Charles, and Princess Alexandra honoured the charity in their own ways, the Duchess of Cambridge shared her own special connection to the organisation.

Kate released a rare, vintage photo of her grandmother, Valerie Middleton, who served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment with the British Red Cross during World War II. In the photograph, the elder Middleton smiles with her fellow nurses, wearing the Red Cross logo and a nurse's cap. The duchess also noted that her great-grandmother, Olive Middleton, was a Red Cross nurse, too.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the Middleton Family
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Middleton Family

Kate also honoured the charity by sending letters to 150 outstanding Red Cross volunteers and staffers. Each recipient was nominated by the charity for their noteworthy contributions to the organisation.

"Your colleagues nominated you because of your hard work with the British Red Cross and because of the way in which you carry out your work: helping those who need it most and putting people first," Kate wrote.

One such person was Anne Taylor, who has volunteered with the charity for 80 years. She joined the Red Cross during World War II, around the same time as Kate's grandmother. Taylor also received a special phone call from Princess Alexandra, commending her for her hard work over the years.

In addition to the letter, each of the 150 recipients received a commemorative coin created by the Royal Mint specifically for the anniversary. In her note, Kate wrote: "I hope this coin serves as a token to remind you of the importance of the role you play in sustaining this incredible organisation."

Photo credit: Courtesy
Photo credit: Courtesy

The duchess noted the importance of the British Red Cross today in particular, in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In the past few months, Red Cross volunteers and staffers have played a major role in fighting Covid-19, including aiding the NHS, delivering food and medicine, offering welfare support for those isolating, and much more.

"In recent months, I have been deeply moved by the work you and your colleagues have continued to do throughout the coronavirus pandemic," Kate wrote. "You have all been doing an inspiring job supporting vulnerable people."

Read the duchess's full letter, here:

I wish to send you many congratulations on being awarded this commemorative coin, created by the Royal Mint, to mark the 150th Anniversary of the British Red Cross. Your colleagues nominated you because of your hard work with the British Red Cross and because of the way in which you carry out your work: helping those who need it most and putting people first.

On this anniversary, I would like to thank and remember the many thousands of staff and volunteers who over the years have contributed tirelessly to the organisation’s work, including my great-grandmother, Olive and my grandmother, Valerie who both served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment with the British Red Cross. Olive during the First World War and Valerie during the Second World War. Like you and many others, they are both part of the rich history of the British Red Cross, which is helping to ensure many people get the support they need during a crisis. In recent months, I have been deeply moved by the work you and your colleagues have continued to do throughout the coronavirus pandemic. You have all been doing an inspiring job supporting vulnerable people.


I hope this coin serves as a token to remind you of the importance of the role you play in sustaining this incredible organisation.

Catherine

You Might Also Like