Royal Watch News

Duchess Catherine sent 'heartfelt condolences'

Feb 11, 2013, 12:02 GMT

Duchess Catherine

Britain's Duchess Catherine sent her 'heartfelt condolences' to the family of a little boy she met at The Treehouse hospice.

The 31-year-old royal - who is currently expecting her first child with husband Prince William - met four-year-old Mackenzie Cackett last March and was touched by his 'gorgeous smile'and following his tragic death last May, she sent a letter to his parents, James Cackett and Danielle Uren.

Catherine - who is patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices - wrote: 'It was an incredible honour to have met Mackenzie when I came to The Treehouse earlier this year, and I was totally bowled over by his courage, his strength of spirit, and his brilliant sense of humour. I will remember very fondly his love of SpongeBob SquarePants, and his gorgeous smile, which never seemed to leave his face. You have my deepest and most heartfelt condolences.'

Mackenzie's parents will always wonder if he could still be alive if he had received better care.

A tumour on his spine was not discovered until seven months after he first complained of headaches and vomiting, and when his symptoms returned it was two months before a new tumour was diagnosed.

Paralysed by the second tumour, Mackenzie went on to spend the final months of his life at The Treehouse Hospice.