Kate Middleton compliments ward host's "gentle smile"

Kate Middleton has shared some touching words with a hospital worker who was chosen to feature in her Hold Still photography book . EDINBURGH, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 26: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge hosts a drive-in cinema screening of Disney's 'Cruella' for Scottish NHS workers at The Palace of Holyroodhouse on May 26, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo - Pool/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Pool/Getty Images)

published 3 June 21

Kate Middleton has shared some sweet words with an NHS employee who refused to leave work after hearing sad family news.

Kate Middleton has shared some heartwarming words with an NHS worker whose portrait featured in her Hold Still exhibition.
The Duchess of Cambridge thanked Gimba for her commitment to her job as a hospital ward host and complimented her "gentle smile."
In other royal news, Princess Diana’s iconic honeymoon outfit ‘almost didn’t happen’ after she was turned away from designer’s shop.

Kate Middleton has shared some sweet words with a hospital worker who refused to take time off after hearing upsetting family news.

The Duchess of Cambridge reached out to Gimba, whose portrait was selected for Hold Still: A Portrait of our Nation in 2020, in autumn of last year to personally thank the NHS employee for her contribution to the project. The recorded conversation was uploaded to her official Youtube channel as part of an ongoing video series to support the exhibition.

The Nigerian ward nurse was pictured in the lockdown-inspired photography book enjoying her lunch at Whipps Cross Hospital in London, where she has worked for almost 20 years. The sweet photo, taken by Gimba's friend Hassan Akkad, was captured on the same day that she found out that her mother back home was ill. Rather than take time off to process the news, Gimba insisted on staying at work so she could feed her Covid patients.

Kate was noticeably in awe of the healthcare worker's commitment, sympathizing that it "must be so hard not being able to speak to her [her mother], not being able to be there with her."

She went on to commend Gimba for finding pleasure in the "simple things" like a tasty meal, adding, "I love the gentle smile on your face despite it being a really hard day for you."

Fortunately, Gimba's mother has recovered and is no longer in hospital. She hopes to be able to visit her when lockdown restrictions lift.

Emma Dooney

Emma is a news writer for woman&home and My Imperfect Life. She covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health or lifestyle story. When she's not reporting on the British monarchy and A-list celebs, you can find her whipping up vegan treats and running the roads to cheesy '90s pop music...but not at the same time, obviously.