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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Zoe Forsey

Kate Middleton's kind gesture at recent rainy engagement almost went unnoticed

While the royal family deals with the fallout from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey, they've also been getting back to work with their normal engagements and meetings.

The Queen has chatted to scientists, teachers and schoolchildren via video call to mark British Science Week while Prince Charles has flown to Greece for a royal tour.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also visited Newham Ambulance Station to chat to a group of front line heroes who have worked throughout the pandemic.

But in true British-style, it started to rain while they chatted to staff outside and while the royals had an umbrella, the women they were speaking to didn't.

The heavens opened during Kate and William's visit to Newham (PA)

Kate asked if she wanted one but the woman politely declined as she didn't want to make a fuss, but the Duchess insisted.

William was heard saying: "I feel bad you haven't got an umbrella. Would you like one?"

Kate added: "Is there a spare? There's a spare one."

She then looked over to her protection officer who nodded before stepping forward to hand the woman an brolly.

Once the woman had the umbrella they carried on their conversation (PA)

During the visit, Kate and William chatted to paramedic Jay Jahin Khan, who asked if they could FaceTime her dad - and they agreed.

They video chatted to Abu, who lives in Bangladesh where he has been staying separated from his family since the lockdown after his mother became sick.

William said: “You must be very proud of your daughter.”

Abu said, “Yes we are all very proud of her.”

Kate and William made a video call during their visit (PA)

Kate and William spoke to staff about the problems they faced during one of the most challenging periods in the London Ambulance Service’s history.

They also met paramedic Shani Smith who has been helping to run one of the special tea trucks to serve ambulance staff and medics over the past year, and heard how she has used her mental health training to provide peer support to her colleagues.

Shani, who has worked for the service for over 20 years, said this was the worst time she had experienced.

“It’s been like one long major incident.”

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