Photos of The Duchess of Cornwall at Maggie's in Southampton

The Duchess of Cornwall met a young family living with the disease at Maggie’s in Tremona Road as she officially opened the facility.

Her Royal Highness, who is also the President of the charity, spoke with Sophie Hewson, 27, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2021.

She was joined by her husband Cameron, 29, and their six-year-old daughter Isabelle.

"I gave her my drawings," said Isabelle.

Her dad then said the Duchess took the drawings home with her.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 26,” Mrs Hewson explained. “The first thing the doctor said was to try Maggie’s.

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“I would recommend it to everyone else. The service has so much to offer including financial advice and support groups.

“It’s so nice that I can open up and talk with other people about what is a really tough time.”

The Duchess then invited six-year-old Isabelle, to help her plant a tree to mark her visit to Maggie’s Southampton.

The Duchess of Cornwall (right) helps plant a tree with Isabelle Hewson during a visit to the charity Maggie's Southampton in the grounds of University Hospital Southampton. Picture date: Wednesday April 6, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Camilla.

Mrs Hewson added: “It is such an honour to meet Her Royal Highness today and be able to have such a lovely chat.

“She was so warm and kind and wanted to know how we all are and how we have been supported by Maggie’s – and Isabelle was delighted to be invited to plant the tree with The Duchess. It was so lovely.”

The centre, based in the grounds of University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust, has been operating since February 2021, face-to-face when possible but also by phone, email and online when lockdown restrictions were in place.

Gilly Howard-Jones, head of the facility in Tremona Road, said: “It went really well. The Duchess was able to meet with the people who make Maggie’s possible with their donations and support, as well as families and visitors.

The Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to the charity Maggie's Southampton in the grounds of University Hospital Southampton. Picture date: Wednesday April 6, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Camilla. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.

“It was fantastic to have Sophie, Cameron and Isabelle here with us as one thing we are really focusing on is supporting families and children effected by cancer, not with cancer.

“We were able to highlight everything we are doing during the visit.”

The Maggie’s building was designed by award-winning architecture and design studio AL_A.

Dame Laura Lee, DBE, Chief Executive of Maggie’s said: “We are so grateful to our President, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, for her continued support and I am delighted to be able to welcome her on her first official visit to Maggie’s Southampton today.

“Her commitment to raising awareness of the support we offer, especially after the last two years, which have been especially difficult for people living with cancer, makes a huge difference to those who visit and work in our centres.

The Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to the charity Maggie's Southampton in the grounds of University Hospital Southampton. Picture date: Wednesday April 6, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Camilla. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.

"Cancer is possibly the hardest experience of a person’s life, yet the pandemic and its knock-on effects have made life even harder. We are incredibly grateful to have been able to ensure people living with cancer across the region have the support they need.

"We are so pleased with the beautiful building that Amanda Levete and her team have created and the beautiful garden designed by Sarah Price. We would like to thank all of the donors and staff who have helped bring this centre to life.”