How Kate Spent Valentine’s Day Without Her Prince…

Kate (The Duchess of Cambridge) has spent her first Valentine’s Day as a married woman, without her husband, Prince William. His deployment to the Falkland Islands has kept him away from her on the day that most couples look forward to stealing precious moments together. Instead of spending the day bemoaning his absence, Kate has been incredibly busy bringing joy into many peoples lives.

Kate’s solo engagement on Valentine’s Day involved touring charities in Liverpool.
Her first stop was an alcohol-free bar called ‘The Brink’ which was set up for recovering addicts.  The bar is run by Action on Addiction – an organisation that helps addicts recover from drink and drug dependency.  The Duchess of Cambridge is a patron of the charity.

Eight-year-old Jaqson Johnston-Lynch handed her red roses, a card and a cupcake iced with the words ‘Jaqson loves Kate’.
Jaqson, whose mother is the head of Action on Addiction, was nominated to meet Kate today.

Looking composed and relaxed, Kate shook hands with staff and met community leaders.  Kate was serenaded by the bar’s resident choir – The Raucous Caucus Recovery Chorus (composed of recovering addicts) with a traditional native American Indian song entitled Wings Of A Dove.

Kate also visited Alder Hey chidren’s hospital, where the duchess spent around half an hour in the Oncology Unit, giving time to each patient and their family.

Alder Hey is one of Europe’s biggest and busiest children’s hospitals providing care for over 200,000 children and young people each year.  Prince William opened its MRI facility during a visit to the hospital in February 2010.

Kate wowed the crowds that had gathered and ensured she had time for all the little well-wishers that queued to meet her, greeting them with big smiles and open arms.

This solo royal engagement was not Kate’s first, however, it was her most taxing.  Kate passed the test with flying colours – the crowds really did love her and many people who were unsure of how Kate would fare as a royal were pleasantly surprised and indeed, had to concede that she is a natural.