Duchess of Cambridge set to give first royal speech

London, Mar 6 (ANI): Duchess Kate will give her first speech as a member of the royal family when she opens a 3 million pound children's hospice, The Tree House, on March 19.

The Duchess will be visiting the Tree House, which works with children suffering from life-limiting conditions, in her role as royal patron of East Anglia Children's Hospices - one of four charities she chose to head in January.

She will meet seriously and terminally ill children before touring the hospice, which has a sensory room, a hydrotherapy pool and a music room.

"Children, families, staff and supporters are very much looking forward to the visit," the Daily Express quoted EACH chief executive Graham Butland, as saying.

Two days before he speech, the Duchess will undertake her first solo military engagement on a visit to Aldershot.

She will present shamrocks to the Irish Guards and their mascot, Conmael, an Irish Wolfhound, at a St Patrick's Day parade at Mons Barracks.

St James's Palace said it would be the start of a long relationship between the Duchess and the Irish Guards.

Last year Prince William became Colonel of the regiment, which had a 32-year association with the Queen Mother. She maintained the tradition begun by Edward VII's wife Queen Alexandra in 1901 of giving shamrocks to the men on St Patrick's Day. (ANI)