Kate Middleton, Camilla, and Sophie of Wessex Make Phone Calls to the Elderly and Vulnerable

From Town & Country

Self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly difficult, both physically and emotionally, especially the elderly. However, few calls could brighten the day of someone who's struggling quite like one from a member of the royal family.

Over the course of the pandemic, NHS Volunteer Responders have made "check in and chat" calls to individuals self-isolating in the U.K. and in the past few weeks, Kate Middleton, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex were among the callers, reaching out to those struggling the most with the quarantine.

The Duchess of Cambridge reached out to Donna Williams, a 42-year-old mother of two, currently taking care of her daughter, Alessandra, who has a rare form of Type 1 diabetes.

Camilla, meanwhile, spoke with an 85-year-old woman named Doris Winfield. According to Winfield, the Duchess' call was much appreciated.

"Having a chat with The Duchess of Cornwall meant the world to me. I’ve been incredibly lonely over the last couple of months and it was wonderful to talk to her. We talked about life in isolation and shared hobbies. She was very interested in my family and how I was coping," Winfield told the NHS. "It really cheered me up."

Harry Deboo, aged 89, was lucky enough to receive a call from the Countess of Wessex. Deboo shared that he has been struggling from the loss of his wife three years ago, and from the loneliness that comes along with self-isolation.

"It was great to chat to The Countess of Wessex and really made my week. I have one son who doesn’t live locally—so I don’t get to see many people—especially now," Deboo said. "I also like to keep the memory of my wife alive and it was great to chat about her. She really listened to every word and it was great to share our lockdown experiences together!”

The royals' phone calls came just in time for the U.K.'s annual Volunteer's Week. This year, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, volunteers have been all the more important in aiding those affected by both the virus and the nationwide lockdowns. The NHS reports that their Volunteer Responders are currently completing about 7,000 tasks a day, and 98% of requests for help are addressed within 24 hours.

In light of this outpouring of aid, Duchess Camilla, who is also the President of the Royal Voluntary Service, thanked volunteers across the nation in a video message.

"We spoke of the quiet acts of heroism—both on the frontline and at home—that brought about a great victory for us all. We now live in a very different world," the Duchess said. "Yet as we pull together to overcome COVID-19, we see the same spirit at work: unsung heroism on the frontline and at home."

Camilla continued, thanking the individuals who stepped up during this difficult time. "We now have a veritable army of 18,000 RVS volunteers and a staggering 600,000 NHS Volunteer Responders. This makes me incredibly proud of our country and of our national willingness to step forward to help in these very challenging times. " She added, "May I salute all the unsung heroes gathered in today’s Virtual Village Hall and thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you."

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