The Duchess of Cambridge has this week met with an elderly man she has been talking with over the phone since the UK’s first wave of coronavirus lockdowns.
Kate was able to finally say hello to Len Gardner, 85, as the Royal Train pulled into Batley in Yorkshire.
The town was one of the final stops on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first leg of their ‘thank you’ tour, where they’ve been paying tribute to the incredible work of individuals and organisations that have gone above and beyond in response to the coronavirus pandemic, in the UK.
The duchess was first introduced to Mr Gardner in May, when she and her family were in lockdown at Anmer Hall, in Norfolk.
She had been put in touch with Mr Gardner by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS).
The calls were part of the National Health Service’s Volunteer Responder ‘Check in and Chat’ scheme, but Kate’s involvement was kept under wraps.
The scheme works to prevent elderly members of the community from becoming socially isolated and lonely during the nation-wide lockdowns. Queen Elizabeth is patron of the RVS and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall is president.
Mr Gardner had been receiving treatment for bladder cancer during the year and is also the full-time carer for his wife, Shirley, 84, who has Alzheimer’s disease. He recently came out of hospital following surgery.
They had two lengthy conversations, lasting around 40 minutes each time, where the duchess insisted that Mr Gardner “call me Catherine”.
Kate spoke to Mr Gardner about her three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – and cooking.
“Never in my wildest imagination did I think I would be talking on the phone to the future Queen of England,” Mr Gardner said of his telephone conversations with the duchess.
“I will treasure our conversations for the rest of my life. Those calls helped me because they gave me something to look forward to.”
During the first call – on May 13 – Kate told Mr Gardner “Prince George and Princess Charlotte were playing in the garden and she was keeping an eye on them through the window”.
Now, they’ve finally been able to meet face to face — wearing face masks, of course.
The royal couple visited the Batley Community Centre, meeting volunteers from the centre who have supported elderly members of their community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by sending cards, having regular phone calls and dropping off shopping, food bags and activity packs.
Prince William and Kate then stopped by Mr Gardner’s home. He is one of the many people supported by the community centre.
They hand delivered care packages to the elderly couple, who appeared delighted by their royal guests.
“They loved our Christmas tree and they said how they appreciated what I do to care for my wife during this terrible time,” Mr Gardner said after meeting Kate and William.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will end their Royal Train tour on Tuesday night local time, after travelling 2000km and making 10 stops throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
This article first appeared on Honey.