Princess of Wales Misses Aberfan Memorial, Visits Ipswich Hospice Instead
The Princess of Wales was not at the Aberfan memorial on Wednesday, the 60th anniversary of the disaster, and on Thursday she visited a children's hospice in Ipswich. Hello reported both engagements.
The 1966 disaster at Aberfan, in south Wales, happened when a coal waste tip collapsed onto the village and its school. Ahead of this year's anniversary, the BBC reported that the King, the Queen and Prince William were scheduled to visit Aberfan. King Charles and Prince William were to lay wreaths in the memorial garden, and a short prayer and a moment of silence were planned there.
The Princess of Wales went instead to The Treehouse, a children's hospice in Ipswich. She was there in her role as patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices, or EACH. A patron is a person who lends their name and public support to a charity. Hello reported that the visit took place on Thursday, 22 October.
She is no stranger to the building. The Princess opened The Treehouse in 2012, and it has since been a regular part of her public work with the charity.
The hospice is now growing. Plans for the expansion include a new hydrotherapy pool, a warm-water pool used for therapy. They also include a wellbeing and therapies suite, a larger care activity area, and a dedicated space for teenagers. A further bedroom is planned, along with an expanded kitchen and dining area. Hello reported that the work is expected to be completed in 2028.
For families who use the hospice, the changes mean more room for therapy, for activities and for older children who want a space of their own. The Aberfan anniversary and the Ipswich visit came within a day of each other, and each had its own schedule of events.
