THE ROYAL FAMILY

SECRET ACTS OF KINDNESS: HOW WILLIAM, KATE AND OTHERS LEND A HAND BEHIND THE SCENES

- SUZANNE WINTROB

When robbers recently broke into St. Thomas Church in the Welsh city of Swansea and made off with food, toys and a bike destined for children in need, parishioners and staff were completely devastated. Yet, as soon as the heartbreaking news spread, the community – not to mention the Prince and Princess of Wales – rallied to save the day.

“It’s so hard to be discouraged when we’ve been surrounded by so much love and generosity,” enthused Rev. Steven Bunting to ITV. “We’ve had people coming in and donating £5 all the way up to the local working men’s club, the local schools, the businesses. And the Prince and Princess of Wales contacted us to offer their love and support. They would like to replace the food that was taken – they very much want to do that.”

Had it not been for the clergyman’s on-air remarks, it’s likely that yet another of the couple’s secret acts of kindness may have gone unnoticed. Much like the Welsh locals, Prince William and Kate were simply responding in their usual caring way. They had been fans of the church’s work since visiting last September, shortly after their new titles were bestowed.

Known for her commitment to children’s early years, Kate had been particularly impressed with St. Thomas’s Baby Basics initiative, which supports vulnerable mothers and their newborns, so learning that items from the collection had been stolen had struck a chord and she was keen to lend a helping hand. Within days, the church’s vital food and baby banks were back in business.