Kate told Hanna Pearce, whose father David was killed in Afghanistan, that she wished she could take her eight-month-old son on more official engagements because she hated being away from him.
“We talked a little bit about baby George. She said she wishes he was there with her because she misses him,” Hanna told Nine News.
William and Kate met four bereaved military families at RAF Amberley this afternoon. Hanna’s mother Nicole Pearce was very impressed with Kate’s compassion, but said she wished she could have spent the day at home with her husband, rather than with royalty without him.
Kate talking to bereaved families.
“I was very honoured. She was absolutely beautiful, very easy to talk to,” Nicole said. “She was sincerely quite sad for us to think David was only over there for two weeks when he was killed.
“She seemed very genuine and she was very sweet. It is bittersweet. I’d rather have Dave here, and the reason we’re here is because he’s not.
“But I think he would be really proud, really honoured to think we had an opportunity like this. It’s not every day you get to meet royalty”
William and Kate chose to meet quietly with the bereaved families outside an official veterans’ reception on the base with no media present.
They spoke to two families each, spending about five minutes with each group.
The families of Lance Corporal Stjepan “Rick” Milosevic, Trooper David Pearce, Private Matthew Lambert and Flight Lt Paul Pardoel were selected to symbolise all families who have lost loved ones through military service.
Earlier today, Air Commodore Tim Innes, Senior Air Force Officer at Amberley, said the meeting would mean much to families still struggling with an enormous sense of loss.
“That is a big part of why they are visiting the base – to honour those fallen and those who made a sacrifice in Afghanistan and other conflicts around the globe,” he told reporters at the base on Saturday before the Cambridges’ arrival.
Innes, 53, was very impressed with the young couple, saying he felt “privileged” to have met them.
“In the RAAF you swear allegiance to the crown, but today [meeting the Duke and Duchess] really brought that home to me. It was a privilege and a significant milestone for the Base,” he told The Weekly.
