Thursday, Prince William and his new wife the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, attended the opening of the Oak Centre for Children and Young People at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, Surrey.

Kate Middleton Shops at Topshop

The newlyweds were greeted by spectators, hospital staff, donors and fundraisers. ”There was excitement amongst the children before the royal arrival,” one source said. ”One boy dressed up in an English soccer shirt to surprise William.”

The center serves more than 5,000 patients a year, and is one of the largest center for children in Europe. Upon her arrival, Kate was given a bouquet by 12-year-old Alice Marples, who has been fighting a brain tumor for eight years.

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William, ever the trooper, didn’t get any sleep before his appearance because he was ”on-call Wednesday night at RAF Valley and had two call outs.” ”He only finished at 10 a.m. Thursday and quickly got changed before he was flown over straight from the base to Surrey,” said the source.

Kate stayed in London and arrived at the event with the Palace staff. When she heard about her husband’s night, she ”gently patted him on the back.”

Prince William became the President of The Royal Marsden Hospital in May 2007, a position formerly held by his mother, Princess Diana.

[image: People]