Duchess Kate Middleton's First Public Speech (FULL TEXT), (PICTURES)

Posted: 19/03/2012 12:38 Updated: 19/03/2012 13:38

Kate Middleton

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, gave her first public speech Monday at a charity where she is a patron.

The charity, Treehouse Hospice in Ipswich, England, is a home for sick children. She wrote the five minute long speech herself, and delivered it to the hospice workers, Fox News reports.

"What you have all achieved here is extraordinary," Kate said, according to the Associated Press. "You as a community have built the Treehouse; a group of people who have made every effort to support and help each other."

The Duchess, recently made patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices, talked about what perspectives have already changed in her visits.

"When I first visited the hospice in Milton, I had a pre-conceived idea as to what to expect," she said. "Far from being a clinical, depressing place for sick children, it was a home. Most importantly, it was a family home, a happy place of stability, support and care. It was a place of fun."

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The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, gave her first public speech Monday at a charity where she is a patron. The charity, Treehouse Hospice in Ipswich, England, is a home for sick children. Sh...
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, gave her first public speech Monday at a charity where she is a patron. The charity, Treehouse Hospice in Ipswich, England, is a home for sick children. Sh...
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05:08 PM on 03/20/2012
She is beautiful , lovely and yes a bit shy!
03:37 PM on 03/20/2012
We seem to get a lot of comment about how good Kate's first speech was. Well, the speech I heard on TV was hesitant, VERY nervous, somewhat trite and generally nothing to write home about.

Yes - she will doubtless get better. Yes - she REALLY needs to.
12:30 PM on 03/20/2012
She will have had lots of coaching and rehearsals for this. It didn't come across as natural and I'd much rather see her being herself, the people behind the scenes should back off and just advise her NOT turn her into a posh clone who can't think for herself.
11:44 AM on 03/20/2012
would her handlers please tell her to stop playing with her hair all the time? truly annoying and unprofessional habit.
06:01 PM on 03/19/2012
I can see why William chose her. She reminds me of the late Princess Diane. I agree with the other posters on the media leaving her alone.
05:15 PM on 03/20/2012
Nothing remotely like Diana ! Kate is low-key, does not need the attention , since she has nothing to prove , is educated and has defined herself. She chooses to support her husband , not hog the spotlight.
05:10 PM on 03/19/2012
Loving person. I think she needs to memorize more of her speeches but that will come in time.
05:03 PM on 03/19/2012
Oh America......We have so much to learn!
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Lisa1129
Find and fulfill your destiny
04:44 PM on 03/19/2012
She gave a good speech, i hope the british media doesn`t hound her
like they did to the late princess Diana.
05:17 PM on 03/20/2012
They, this time around, are not getting tip-offs of the whereabouts to fill the front page and grab the headlines!!!
03:45 PM on 03/19/2012
She sounds so much like Diana.
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IvyRedhead Hoffart
enjoying life in a messed-up world
03:29 PM on 03/19/2012
Very well spoken and clam, not a single annoying filler word such as "like" (AGH!!!!), "you know" (*facepalm*) or "Um".
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sasseyfrass
03:22 PM on 03/19/2012
Hey MICHEAL!!! Why not rule???? Great idea!!!!
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firstdamsel
Retired Narcotics Detective, NJ
03:19 PM on 03/19/2012
So sweet! What this country should be all about~Integrity, Class, Genuine concern and care. It this were in the US, this speech would definately been given by some politician looking for campaign funds. Go Kate!
03:13 PM on 03/19/2012
Very well done for her first speech! I was expecting for her to be looking at the crowds more and maybe have memorized the speech? But shes still amazing and such a great extension!!
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Michael Leinbach
02:52 PM on 03/19/2012
I would be willing to bet that the reason "Kate Middleton" Is used is because the writer is a womens liberalation believer and believes that NO MAN has the right to change any womans given name! I was blown away to see that women writers on the huff post when writing about a man and his wife always put the womans name first and the mans last. The reason it blew me away is because I have grown up as the man as the head of the household in our culture. I guess anyone can change the rules anytime they see fit now in America!

Feminists do not want equality! They want to RULE! Believe that!
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IvyRedhead Hoffart
enjoying life in a messed-up world
03:24 PM on 03/19/2012
Well I'm so glad you've noticed that things are different in America, now go back to beating your wife.

(and just for the record: NO MAN has the right to change a womans given name, it's HER choice, NOT his!!!)
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Watching rock grow
FE = Iron, and Female = Iron Male :)
04:17 PM on 03/19/2012
From the small bit, I know of you, you need a ruler.

The reason why Kate Middleton is used instead of HRH Duchess Catherine of Cambridge is a business decision. Inflicted by publishing concerns, because it saves headline space with a smaller number of letters used to identify the same person.
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Panhermes
02:45 PM on 03/19/2012
For gosh sake, it's a short enough little presentation, respect those to whom you are speaking enough to either pick up the darn lines or commit them to memory. Not doing so takes away from whatever sincerity is intended. And for gosh sake, can we please do something with that mop, while it's perfectly lovely for a young girl, a married matron of thirty might find ways to secure it so it's not a distraction. This won't play The Palace, time for an upgrade. May this be merely the first of many speeches to come-Dukee Cam, extraordinarily sweet rep for the royal's and the UK..
03:14 PM on 03/19/2012
you want her to secure her hair because it's distracting and she's 30 and married? Would you like her to cover her head and face too?
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Panhermes
04:51 PM on 03/19/2012
Danielle De Jo: Feeling better now you've had your rude little unimportant rant? Let's hope so. I fully stand by my original post. Though it's not at all original but has been mentioned by insiders heretofore! But on a more personal basis, you matter not one whit with your inability to suggest your opinion minus extremes of anger. With most sincere hope you learn to manage that better or see a professional for help.
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Kelly5472
06:58 PM on 03/19/2012
I disagree about the hair. It is fine if she isn't trying to look down to read. I agree she should have memorized the speech. Perhaps Obama can loan her a teleprompter? I've yet to see him give one speech that seemed like he wasn't reading it. How sincere does that make him?
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Panhermes
09:10 PM on 03/19/2012
Kelly5472: True, loan the Obama and 'w' and Clinton and all presidents since at least Ike the presidential teleprompter. As head of a corporation, now retired I am flattered when requested to give a 'speech' or little talk as part of a ceremony. I know how busy her schedule is and while her hair is not big issue and quite beautiful it is in fact past time she sweep an updo of at least a few of those lovely locks to avoid the distraction. It's especially a challenge to give a speech first time, from then on it get a tad easier.