Prince William’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, gives first foreign speech (VIDEO)
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge writes a birthday message for leukemia sufferer Zakwan Anuar, 15, at Hospis Malaysia on Day 3 of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s Diamond Jubilee Tour of South East Asia on September 13, 2012 in in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are on a Diamond Jubilee Tour of South East Asia and the South Pacific taking in Singapore, Malaysia, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
Prince William's wife Kate today made her first foreign speech as the Duchess of Cambridge, praising the work of a children's hospice in Malaysia as the royal couple kick off their world tour, reported the Associated Press.
"Providing children and their families with a place of support, care and enhancement at a time of great need is simply life-changing," Kate told workers at Kuala Lumpur's Hospis Malaysia today, according to MSN Malaysia.
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The speech by Kate, who is a big supporter of the UK's East Anglia Children's Hospice, was an "anticipated event" for the royal couple's many admirers, said MSN Malaysia.
Wearing a delicate, sky-blue vintage-looking dress (which, sorry, has been seen before), Kate welcomed the launch of country's first palliative care program for children, said AP, adding approvingly that the Duchess "read slowly" and looked up often during her nearly two-minute address.
"Loud applause greeted the end of her speech," according to Hello Magazine, but nobody "clapped louder than William, whose wide smile clearly conveyed the pride he felt for his wife's achievement." The couple married in April.
The newlyweds also spent time meeting with children privately, where they participated in various art activities. "William drew a cat and mouse that resembled cartoon characters Tom and Jerry," said AP, citing British embassy officials.
Maybe he was aiming for child-pleasing content, but Kate had a better idea by reportedly asking a 14-year-old standing nearby what she should draw.
"Draw what makes you happy," he said diplomatically, according to officials cited by MSN Malaysia. Okay then. She sketched a "beautiful tree with some birds flying above it," officials said.
The couple met with the Malaysian prime minister earlier today. They will travel to the Solomon Islands after their Malaysia stay as part of the nine-day Far East and South Pacific leg of their 2012 world tour in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, said AP.
You can watch more of her speech here: