In a rare joint engagement, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie joined forces with their mum, Sarah Ferguson, to visit teenagers and young people with cancer. The trio, who are honorary patrons of Teenage Cancer Trust, visited the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) today.
Since it was opened by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, in 2005, the unit has seen thousands of teenagers and young people with cancer come through its doors.
During the visit, the Duchess and Princesses met with young people and their families currently staying on the unit, as well as the NHS nurses and youth workers who are supporting them through treatment.
One of those they met was former patient Freddie Debenham, 21, who had returned to share his experiences. He said: “Cancer sucks more than words can ever express and having three cancer diagnoses in my life sucks even more, but I have always fought through it with determination and resilience, all with the knowledge that for a short while my life will be miserable, but once the treatment is over, I’ll be free to return to a normal life.”
They also met with Lennon Pearson, 18, who said: “I had been feeling unwell for months, so my GP ordered a blood test. The next day I was rushed to hospital, and I’m starting my 4th cycle of chemo here tomorrow. You don’t meet Royalty every day and it’s good that they are visiting to raise awareness.
He added: “There’s a lot of negativity around cancer so trying to stay as positive as you can is important.”
The Duchess of York also said it was her “first chance” to visit a unit since she had her own cancer diagnosis. She explained: “This is the first chance I’ve had to visit a unit since my own cancer diagnoses, and meeting young people with cancer is always an incredibly moving experience.
“It’s incredibly important to me to try to amplify the voices and experiences of people with cancer who receive less attention, whose voices are not listened to and who can be overlooked.”
“The young people receiving care on this unit and their parents are currently under tremendous stress and worry, but I take heart in knowing that the unit and the incredible team working here can provide comfort, care, and hope.”
Princess Beatrice also reflected on when she visited the hospital to learn more about the Trust’s work, which was on her 18th birthday.
She explained: “To be here again today and meet with young people and their families who are facing such huge challenges is a privilege and an honour. Their resilience in the face of adversity never ceases to amaze.”
Princess Eugenie added: “Meeting the nurses and youth support workers on the unit that go above and beyond to make sure that the patients have the best possible experience of treatment is so inspiring – they are absolute heroes.
“Nobody ever wants to find themselves in hospital, but for young people with cancer and their families, units like these – bright welcoming spaces with amazing staff – truly are the best possible place.”
