Valentine’s Day is often reserved for romance but Sophie, Countess of Wessex had a different kind of love on her mind this February.
The 57-year-old royal paid a special visit to Shooting Star Children’s Hospice in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, where she spent time with sick children and their families and carers.
Love was the theme of the visit, Sophie joining the children in heart-themed crafts and activities before leading a touching Beatles sing-along.
She was joined by staff and carers as they sang “All You Need Is Love” in Makaton, a language that combines signs, speech and symbols to allow people to communicate.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex paid a special visit to Shooting Star Children’s Hospice.
(Image: Getty)
Footage of her visit was shared to the official Royal Family Instagram account alongside a special message for Valentine’s Day in the UK.
“All you need is love 💙” the caption read.
“As @SSChospices Patron, The Countess of Wessex visited their Hampton hospice for some very special #ValentinesDay activities – including a Makaton sing-along.”
Sophie has been a patron of the children’s hospices for years and has a deep passion for the care and support of sick and disabled children.
As well as paying regular visits to the hospices and the children who receive care there, Sophie has also championed the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The royal has been a vocal supporter of health workers and frontline staff throughout the many UK lockdowns and continues to show her dedication to the people who care of the UK’s most vulnerable patients.
Speaking about her Shooting Star Children’s Hospice patronage previously, Sophie thanked staff for the incredible care and love they show each child who comes through their doors.
“You are their family when they’re here. The parents trust you completely with their children and no price can be put on that,” she said.
“And to all of the people who are helping to fund this amazing organisation, thank you – it’s a very special place and I know that many families couldn’t survive without Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.”
Sophie joined the children in heart-themed crafts and activities, then spent time chatting with them and their families.
(Image: Getty)Sophie knows all too well how difficult it can be for parents when their children are ill and how vital the support of health workers can be in moments like that.
Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie’s eldest child with Prince Edward, was born four weeks early in an emergency caesarean operation.
The traumatic birth saw Sophie lose more than five litres of blood through internal bleeding, while Louise was kept in neo-natal intensive care for more than two weeks.
Thankfully, the young royal is now a happy and healthy 18-year-old but Sophie has worked hard to make sure parents going through scary medical moments – like the one she faced – never have to feel alone.
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