Prince William and Kate Middleton to Open Children's Cancer Center
Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are set to open a cancer center for children at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London later this month.
The news, announced Monday by the royal office, also revealed that Prince William and Kate would visit the center on September 29 where they will meet the staff and patients and also receive a tour of the unit.
William has followed his mother, Princess Diana's lead, taking up her position as president of the British hospital. The 29-year-old Prince will unveil a plaque at the official center opening, according to People magazine.
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Sources have also confirmed to the magazine that Kate, 29, has been visiting various charities in an attempt to better decide which causes she will pursue.
"The Duchess has a broad range of interests," said a spokesman. Whatever charity she decides to support "will be different but complement her husband's existing interests."
Prince William and Kate Middleton were recently in the media for their donation of a Land Rover, which they received as a wedding present, to the mountain rescue team in Lake District, U.K.
It is customary for royal couples to only accept wedding presents from family and close friends - any other gifts are donated.
From a group of 26 charities, the Glossop Mountain Rescue Team (GMRT) was chosen through a raffle handpicked by Prince Harry to receive the Land Rover. GMRT is composed entirely of volunteers who donate their time to rescuing people in wild and remote places.
"The vehicle will be greatly appreciated," said GMRT honorary secretary Keith Montgomery in a statement.
Montgomery added, "Our present vehicle only has a shelf life of about six months and we were embarking on a major fundraising exercise to raise more than £45,000 ($70,780) to replace it."
Prince William and Kate Middleton had requested in lieu of wedding presents that donations be made to their favorite charities.
One courtier told the Daily Mail: "It was their idea to suggest getting guests to give donations rather than presents. They want to use the goodwill towards them to help the causes close to them."
