Sarah Ferguson and her two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, had an emotional moment while meeting with teenage cancer patients.
The royals participated in a video call with these young people last week as part of their role as honorary patrons of the Teenage Cancer Trust, and also helped to open a new blood cancer ward at the University College London Hospital. The trust worked with Morgan Stanley employees to raise and donate the over £600,000 of funding needed to open this new wing where teens and young people with blood cancer will be treated and put in touch with experts in a place specially designed for them.
During the call, both the Duchess of York and Beatrice could be seen getting choked up as the organization’s co-founders Dr Adrian Whiteson OBE and Myrna Whiteson MBE thanked them for their 32 years of service and support. Dr Adrian said, “Eugenie, Beatrice, you must be very proud of mum because she has such humility and such empathy with patients,” prompting Eugenie to lean over and give her mom a big hug. Beatrice was calling in from a separate location than her sister and Sarah, but was also moved by the high praise, wiping away a tear and smiling at the camera. The Duchess replied to the co-founders, “Well, we’re very proud of you.”
Myrna then went on to say, “I just wonder when we enlist the little ones?” in reference to Beatrice’s daughter Sienna, who will turn one in September, and Eugenie’s son August, who turned one back in February. She added, “Give them a year or two and they’ll be doing Teenage Cancer Trust.” Beatrice replied with a big smile, “Sienna’s already a lifelong patron.” The princess also recalled getting to visit the Teenage Cancer Trust when she was just a teenager herself and the impact it had on her future charitable endeavors. “My 18th birthday, I got to come down to the ward and meet some of the young people,” she explained. “And I think when you’re a young person yourself, it changed for me the trajectory of, you know, what it is to be in service.”
The video call wrapped up with the Duchess officially opening the new UCLH hematology ward to a round of applause. The royal has been a supporter of the Teenage Cancer Trust since its founding. In a statement, she wrote, “This is a special charity that’s so very close to my heart. Cancer doesn’t just devastate a young person’s health. It threatens to take away everything they care about – their identity, their independence, and their dreams. Teenage Cancer Trust’s specialist nurses and youth workers provide the very best care and support during treatment and beyond, making sure that cancer doesn’t stop young people living their lives.” Sarah concluded, “I opened the first Teenage Cancer Trust unit for young people in London in 1990, and 32 years later, to be here with my daughters, helping to open this new blood cancer ward at UCLH, is truly remarkable. We are all honored to be a part of this incredible charity.”
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