HRH The Prince of Wales met with patients, families, and staff at the Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast, and added a personal message on a special Wall of Reflection.
The Prince also met a young fundraiser who made a cake for the occasion and who has raised thousands for the end of life charity.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales paid a special visit to the Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast today, on the Day of Reflection, to thank the charity’s staff in Northern Ireland for their tireless work throughout the pandemic.
The Prince, who has been Patron of Marie Curie since 2003, previously visited the Belfast Hospice in 2006. Since then, the end of life charity has expanded its hospice and community nursing care and now supports one in three dying people in Northern Ireland.
During the visit, His Royal Highness said:
“I know only to full well what an enormous difference you make to so many people’s lives both here and obviously within the community.
“And as I say I don’t know what we would do without Marie Curie and I am very proud not only to be a patron of Marie Curie but also Macmillan and so it’s trying to keep up and catch up with everybody and all your wonderful work is always my problem.
“But every time I come visit a hospice or anywhere I am so impressed by the quality of service, care, and complete devotion let alone all the wonderful work the volunteers do.
“Again, I cannot thank you enough for what it is worth, the incredible amount of time and effort you put into all of this, to making lives better at a very difficult time. We are very lucky to have you. Thank you.”
The Royal visit took place on the Day of Reflection 2022, the second anniversary of lockdown and during the charity’s annual flagship fundraiser, the Great Daffodil Appeal, which takes place every March.
During the visit, The Prince of Wales added a personal message on a special Wall of Reflection, one of a network created for the day to allow local communities to come together to remember loved ones who have died over the past couple of years.
His Royal Highness met Emily McCooey, aged 9, from Loughbrickland, County Down, who along with Marie Curie staff, patients, families, volunteers, and supporters added personal messages on the hospice’s Wall of Reflection to mark the Day of Reflection. Emily is one of Marie Curie’s youngest fundraisers and even baked The Prince a special cake. Emily’s grandad ‘Gaga’ Jimmy McCooey was cared for at the hospice before his death in April 2020.
She said: “Not that many people get to meet a real prince so that was really exciting. I think he liked my cake and he wanted to know what was inside it. I made it with cream and jam and sponge because that’s what I thought a prince would like. He told me to keep fundraising and I will do that because Marie Curie helped my grandad and I want them to help lots of other people as well.”
The Prince also met several patients and their families as well as hospice and community-based staff, and volunteers, during a tour alongside Paula Heneghan, Marie Curie Northern Ireland Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships and Service, and Matthew Reed, Marie Curie Chief Executive.
Joan Brown, 82, a former nurse and midwife from East Belfast, is a patient at the hospice and was delighted to meet The Prince for a second time. She said: “I met him at a dinner many years ago – he looked a lot younger then… but so did I. I remember I curtsied that time, but this time I had to apologise to him that my curtsying days are over. Which made me laugh and so did he. It was lovely that Prince Charles came to thank the nurses today because they have all been wonderful with me. It’s strange being a patient now. I know I’m not going to get better, but with the help of the team here I want to keep smiling and chatting to people and enjoying all the time I do have left.”
Paula Heneghan, Marie Curie Northern Ireland Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships and Service, said: “On behalf of Marie Curie, I would like to thank His Royal Highness for visiting the Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast, particularly on such a poignant day for us, when we are encouraging everyone to reflect and remember the loved ones they have lost and come together to show support to those who are grieving. We also are grateful for his personal tribute on our special Wall of Reflection in the hospice.”
“It is clear that His Royal Highness has a deep understanding of our charitable work supporting local communities in every part of Northern Ireland and our commitment to ensuring that everyone has equal access to the very best end of life experience that reflects what’s important to them and their loved ones.”
Earlier in the day, The Prince of Wales took place in a minute of silence during his visit to Belfast Opera House.
Marie Curie is the largest charitable provider of end-of-life care in Northern Ireland.
To find out more about the Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast, please visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/belfast
The Day of Reflection takes place during Marie Curie’s flagship fundraiser, the Great Daffodil Appeal. Throughout March, volunteer collectors will be out on high streets and at local supermarkets in Northern Ireland giving out daffodil pins in return for donations. Money raised supports Marie Curie’s vital end-of-life care and bereavement services. Find out more at mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil.