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Queen Laughs Off Mobile Phone Interruption at Hospice Opening
In a lighthearted moment, Queen Elizabeth II found humor when a mobile phone unexpectedly rang during a critical moment as she inaugurated a hospice building near her residence.
Despite the scorching temperatures in the UK on Friday, the 96-year-old monarch, accompanied by her daughter Princess Anne, made the journey from her Windsor Castle home to Maidenhead to unveil the new home of the Thames Hospice.
The hospice has been frequented by members of the royal family for decades and the visit provided an opportunity for the Queen to meet with staff, volunteers, and a patient.
The Queen’s visit coincided with a historic heatwave in the United Kingdom, prompting the Met Office, Britain’s national meteorological service, to issue extreme heat weather warnings across the country.
Some areas are expected to reach temperatures of up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit next week.
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Nevertheless, Her Majesty arrived at the opening ceremony just before midday, exuding a lively spirit.
To combat the heat, she chose to forgo her usual trademark colored coat and hat, instead opting for a simple floral print dress and black accessories, including her trusted black patent leather handbag.
She also adorned herself with a diamond aquamarine brooch, a heirloom pearl necklace, and a three-strand necklace passed down from her mother.
Princess Anne, 71, looked elegant as ever in a striped yellow dress.
As a mobility aid, the Queen used a long walking stick with a polished handle, presented to her as an official platinum jubilee gift on behalf of the British Army.
Upon their arrival at the hospice, both the Queen and Princess Anne received a warm welcome.
The Thames Hospice provides palliative and end-of-life care to individuals aged 16 years and older across East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire.
During the tour, the Queen and Princess Anne interacted with staff, volunteers, and patients.
In one particularly poignant moment, the Queen met Graham White and his wife, Pat, who is receiving respite care at the center in Maidenhead while battling stage four cancer.
Just as the Queen was introduced to the couple, Mr. White’s phone rang and he quickly reached into his pocket to silence it.
The Queen humorously remarked, “Typical.
A phone goes off immediately.”
Mr. White sheepishly explained that it was his son calling.
Mrs. White, seated as she chatted with the Queen, described the encounter as very emotional and expressed her gratitude, saying, “This is a memory I will treasure.”
She also jokingly mentioned how she could have killed her husband for the phone interruption.
Mr. White, a former warrant officer and functions manager at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, added, “People think the Queen is all stiff upper lip, but she has a sense of humor.”
Reflecting on the incident, he admitted, “I turned my wife’s phone off, and I could have sworn mine off as well.
That was a bit embarrassing.”
Mrs. White shared that the Queen praised the beauty of the building and showed a keen interest in the different treatments for cancer, expressing hope that the new facility would support all the cancer patients there.
Before departing the hospice, the Queen, accompanied by Princess Anne, officially unveiled a plaque and signed the visitor’s book.
Princess Anne stayed behind to visit more hospice patients in the 20-bed inpatient department.
The Thames Hospice, which has been operational for over three decades, offers nursing, medical, and therapeutic care to address the physical, social, and emotional needs of patients and their loved ones.
The hospice relies on generous donations and the dedication of 700 volunteers to provide its services free of charge.
With the opening of the new £22 million state-of-the-art facility, the center can now care for twice as many patients.
The previous site in Windsor was inaugurated by the Queen in 1987 and has welcomed notable visitors such as Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
The new building, located beside a picturesque lake surrounded by trees in Maidenhead, features an open-plan reception with an airy atrium, a cafe, and a shop.
Debbie Raven, the hospice’s chief executive, expressed gratitude for the royal family’s interest and support, stating, “To know the Royal Family, and especially the Queen, are interested and are looking out for us means so much, not just to us, but to our patients.”
Sarah Williams-Kelley, a former nurse turned volunteer at the hospice, had the opportunity to chat with the Queen.
She shared, “She saw how lovely the building is and asked me about my role in looking after patients and relatives.”
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