Kate Middleton uplifted an 85-year-old carer's spirits at the height of the pandemic lockdown when she made private phone calls to check up on him and ensure that he was coping well.
The Duchess of Cambridge made a friend in Len Gardner, the full-time caregiver of his wife, who has Alzheimer's disease. In the last few months, Kate has been talking to him for more than 30 to 40 minutes per call.
Gardner told The Sun that it wasn't hard to open up to Prince William's wife despite his hesitation before their first call. Initially, he was "flabbergasted" to learn that it was the Duchess of Cambridge at the other end of the line.
However, the caregiver said that within minutes of their initial exchange, which took place in May, Kate instantly felt like a friend. Gardner calls Kate by her first name, Catherine, and they apparently bonded over their shared love for Italian dishes.
After their first talk, Gardner received a surprise gift from the duchess. She sent him a new pasta machine and a supply of flour. The delighted caregiver said that it's "what you see is what you get" with Kate, adding that she is just as nice in real life as she looks on television.
Gardner also said that Kate's calls have actually helped him throughout the lockdown because it was something he looked forward to. Aside from their shared love for Italian food, Kate also talked about her kids, while Gardner discussed his family with the duchess.
According to People, Kate learned of Gardner through the Royal Voluntary Service. As part of their advocacy on mental health, Kate and Prince William have been working with various agencies to ensure that those in the frontlines and those who provide care are also looked after.
In June, Prince William himself revealed that he volunteers as a crisis helpline responder for Shout 85258. He has been answering messages and giving encouragement anonymously to thousands of people who have been mentally struggling during the pandemic.
Kate and Prince William helped the U.K. government launch Shout 85258 in 2019 and poured part of their money from the Royal Foundation into this organization, which has at least 2,000 volunteers across the country. According to BBC, the crisis helpline has received over 300,000 text conversations since its launch, and more than half of the people on the platform are under 25.
Meanwhile, Kate and Prince William are currently on their Royal Train Tour across the United Kingdom for three days to personally thank the frontliners, carers, teachers, and other workers who have kept the country running during the lockdown.
