The Queen Passes Down a Family-Focused Patronage to Duchess Kate
Duchess Kate has spent much of the past eight years working with charities and organizations that improve the lives of families and communities, and now she's taken on a new patronage dedicated to the same causes.
The queen has passed on a patronage with British charity Family Action to the Duchess of Cambridge, after holding the role for 65 years. The news became official during a December 4 engagement with the organization, which will see Kate join families and children in Buckinghamshire supported by Family Action in a number of Christmas activities, including decorating, creating hot chocolate, and making eco-friendly reindeer food.
Kate’s new patronage remains within her focus on the early years of childhood development and the importance of supporting families during that key period of a child’s life. Founded in 1869, Family Action helps families through a number of difficulties, such as mental health, domestic and substance abuse, financial difficulties, and parenting challenges through practical, emotional, and financial support.
During her visit to Peterley Manor Farm today, Kate will learn more about how Family Action work with disadvantaged and vulnerable children through local and national services as well as providing training to professionals and organizations. The Duchess first visited their Lewisham, London base in January, where she launched the charity’s FamilyLine support phone line.
"Everybody experiences the same struggle,” she said during the January 22 visit. “You get a lot of support with the baby as a mother particularly in the early days but after the age of one it falls away. After that there isn’t a huge amount — lots of books to read.”
David Holmes, Chief Executive of Family Action, says that the charity is honored that the duchess is following in the footsteps of former patrons Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Mary. “Everyone at Family Action would like to extend our thanks to Her Majesty for her steadfast support and encouragement to us over so many years,” he says. “I have seen The Duchess’s passionate support for disadvantaged families first hand and have been impressed by her leadership in understanding and promoting the vital importance of the Early Years. Family Action looks forward to working with The Duchess in the years to come.”
Earlier this year Prince William and Duchess Kate visited Family Action’s “Family Monsters Garden” at May’s Chelsea Flower Show. The project was built to encourage families to talk openly about the difficulties and pressures they face.
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