Princess Beatrice spent the day in Edinburgh visiting a number of local charities and organisations that are connected to her work with children and education, starting at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity. Her Royal Highness is Patron of the charity, which aims to transform the experiences of young people in hospital so their lives are less interrupted by illness, they are less scared of hospital and better supported and comforted.
During the visit, Princess Beatrice met children and young people who have benefitted from the charity’s support, which includes art and activities, funding for equipment and parents’ accommodation. Also present was young cancer patients from the hospital who have received amazing support from the Teenage Cancer Trust. Her Royal Highness, along with Sister Princess Eugenie and mother Sarah, Duchess of York, are all Patron’s of the Trust.
At the Scottish National Storytelling Centre Princess Beatrice joined a storytelling session with Ed Vere, the 2019 winner of the Oscars Book Prize. Her Royal Highness is Patron of the Prize and attended the Award Ceremony in May. The Storytelling Centre is dedicated to preserving and recounting Scotland’s stories so that they can be enjoyed by future generations. Established in 2006, the centre forms a bustling arts venue that celebrates the nation’s cultural heritage.
Following the storytelling session, Princess Beatrice joined school children as they took part in the ‘Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail, which is Scotland’s first ever national public art trail that is raising funds for Scotland’s children’s hospital charities, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, and the ARCHIE Foundation. Running from 17 June – 30 August, the Trail will culminate in a series of Farewell Events and an auction in each of the five host cities, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.
To finish the day in Edinburgh, Her Royal Highness met supporters of Outward Bound Scotland at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. In March 2019 it was announced that Princess Beatrice had been elected as a Trustee of the charity, which was established in 1941 and has now helped over a million young people to participate in outdoor learning programmes, which develop character and instil self-belief and resilience. It was also announced in March that The Duke of York would take over Patronage of the Charity from The Duke of Edinburgh who had held the role since 1953.
