The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have sent a special haggis dinner and a Zoom greeting to front line NHS workers in Scotland to celebrate Burns Night, an annual tradition that honors the Scottish poet Robert Burns.
Speaking from their country home in Norfolk, where William and Kate are staying with their family during the lockdown, the couple spoke to staff at NHS Tayside, where doctors and nurses work in the dedicated COVID 19 Intensive Care Unit and High Dependency Units have seen a dramatic rise in admissions of Covid patients in recent weeks. The staff looked thrilled to be enjoying their traditional haggis supper courtesy of the royal couple, who teamed up with the charity NHS Charities Together to get the meal delivered to them.
Sitting on the sofa of his living room alongside Kate, who wore a tartan dress, William said, “We want to say a huge thank you for all of the work you are doing and the sacrifices you are making. As a token of our appreciation, we’ve teamed up with NHS Charities Together to provide you with a Haggis dinner.”
The supper was a traditional Burns meal consisting of haggis, neeps, and tatties.
The Duchess, who is sporting a new sleek hairstyle, added, “We hope you enjoy it, and look forward to better times together soon” before they signed off in unison with “Slàinte Mhath!”
Scots around the world traditionally celebrate Burns Night with a celebratory feast , drinking and dancing, but all celebrations have been cancelled this year. However thanks to NHS Charities Together (William and Kate are joint patrons ) two hundred food boxes from local family business House of Bruar have been sent to hospital staff. In addition, Royal Warrant Holders Valvona & Crolla, and Fisher and Donaldson donated Burns Biscuits and gift boxes to NHS Tayside staff to thank them for all they have been doing.
Lorna Birse-Stewart, Chair of Tayside NHS Board, thanked the royal couple for the generous gesture and for putting the spotlight on the work of its staff. “On behalf of NHS Tayside and Tayside Health Fund I would like to take the opportunity to thank The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for this wonderful gesture. It provides an opportunity for us to recognise some of the patient-facing and support staff across health and social care in Tayside who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment during these most challenging times.”
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