Princess of Wales continues return to work with personal message for bereaved parents
The Princess of Wales has sent a personal message of “love, strength and hope” to parents who have lost a baby as she continues her return to work.
The Princess, who is mother to three children, said it was important to support those who have experienced the “devastation of baby loss”.
In a social media post to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, in which bereaved parents and those who care for them light candles in memory of their babies, she said she was “sending love, strength and hope to anyone affected”.
The Princess has made the wellbeing of children and their families the key cause of her working royal life and has marked the week in previous years.
She signed this year’s social media post with her initial, “C”, denoting that it is a personal message rather than one issued by Kensington Palace aides.
People around the world made similar posts on social media in memory of babies lost to miscarriage, still birth and neonatal death, with people sharing photographs of candles they have lit in remembrance in a “wave of light”.
It is intended to raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss, as well as commemorating babies.
The Princess wrote: “Baby Loss Awareness Week is such an important moment to support those who have experienced the devastation of baby loss. Sending love, strength and hope to anyone affected. #WaveofLight. C.”
Kensington Palace followed the message with links to organisations supporting parents and the bereaved.
The message was posted alongside an image of a Tommy’s Wave of Light candle from Plum and Ashby, which donates 100 per cent of profits to research into baby loss. It has pledged to donate a minimum of £250,000 by 2026.
Princess shows support for Southport families
The message is another step in the Princess’s return to work following chemotherapy.
Last week, she made an in-person appearance to show her support for the families of children killed in Southport and thank the community and emergency services who tried to help them.
She has also been photographed hugging aspiring photographer Liz Hatton, 16, who has a rare form of cancer, after the teenager was invited to Windsor Castle by the Prince of Wales to take pictures during an investiture.
The meeting did not appear in the court circular, but was shared on social media.
The Princess has also made a private visit to watch the English National Ballet’s matinee show of Giselle at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, posting on social media afterwards about the “moving and inspiring” performance.
The Princess has appeared in the court circular twice since finishing her chemotherapy this summer for meetings at Windsor Castle, including with her Early Years team.
In 2020, she showed her support for Baby Loss Awareness Week with an engagement at Tommy National Centre for Miscarriage Research and spoke to representatives of SANDS, the baby loss charity, about how best to support parents.
Last year, Kensington Palace shared a message sharing links to relevant charities and saying: “Marking Baby Loss Awareness Week and thinking of all those who have been affected by baby loss.”
