LAHORE: British royal couple, Prince William and Kate Middleton, on Thursday paid a visit to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre and interacted with the brave cancer patients.
The royal couple visited the children’s ward to spend time with patients undergoing treatment at the hospital, and spoke to a number of their families.
They were seen talking to seven-year-old Wafia Rehmani, who wore a matching toy tiara with the Duchess as she hosted a toy tea party on her bed. Wafia, from Afghanistan, has a kidney tumour. She told the royals that she wants to be a doctor when she is older and even showed them her toy medical set.
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital is a state-of-the-art cancer facility located in the centre of Lahore. The hospital set up by Prime Minister Imran Khan is the same visited by Prince William’s late mother, Princess Diana, in 1996.
Diana was pictured cuddling a blind, eight-year-old girl, who was being treated for a tumour at a fundraising event for the hospital in February 1996.
In May the following year, months before her tragic death, she returned to tour the hospital again and was pictured cuddling and comforting sick children.
Diana met some of the most severely ill children and helped to raise funds for the hospital. This visit is just another reminder for William of his mother’s legacy.
The royal couple is on a four-day official trip to the country. Earlier in the day, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Badshahi Mosque in Lahore.
The royal couple also met with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar before proceeding to a charity function.
