The Princess of Wales was sniffed by a drug-sniffing dog during a surprise visit to prison with her fingers bound after a trampoline accident.
Kate sat in a chair, followed security procedures at HMP High Down in Surrey to understand the procedures for family and friends visiting prisoners, and was checked by Penny, a black Labrador.
Her right index and middle fingers were taped together after the accident, which Kensington Palace described as “minor injuries, not serious.”
Kate is a patron of addiction charity Forward Trust and visited the Category C prison in Sutton to learn about their work helping prisoners recover from addiction.
She joked about injuring her finger, telling the couple it was her fault for “jumping around on the trampoline” and that the strap was to protect her finger.
As she walked through the entrance, which is used by about 2,000 visitors a month, she was shown the reaction of Penny, a black Labrador, when she spotted something.
Kate said: “It’s amazing. It’s unbelievable, very calm and controlled. It’s not intimidating.”
Tuesday’s trip comes ahead of October’s Addiction Awareness Week, with this year’s theme being ‘Everyone Knows Someone’, which aims to highlight the wide range of people in society affected by this issue. It is said that
Wearing a blue suit and matching blue heels, the princess also met prisoners receiving addiction support at High Down before visiting the prison’s award-winning restaurant, The Clink.
She spoke to prisoners undergoing hospitality training, praised the food as “delicious” and met families who work at the Forward Trust.
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Richard Stevenson, a Forward Trust client for more than 20 years and a recovering addict himself, had come to see Kate with his family.
An NHS service manager known as Steph said: “It’s really important that people from all walks of life are interested and asking questions.
“It’s about believing that people can change…I’m a professional now. It’s really important to rise up from there and meet someone who might be a future queen.”
Mark Ash, a former prisoner at HMP Highdown who is a recovering addict and works with the Forward Trust to support people, also spoke to Kate.
He welcomed seeing a high-status figure highlight addiction, saying: “When someone like Kate stands in that position, people will listen, because she’s the Princess of Wales. ” he added.
“It’s an honor that she would want to participate.”
Kate became a patron of the Forward Trust in 2021 when the charity merged with Action on Addiction, one of the first charities she became a patron of in 2012.
The trust works in 25 prisons across the UK, helping people deal with issues such as substance abuse, mental health, housing and employment for those leaving prison, and improving relationships with friends and family, including children. We are supporting.
Highdown Governor Emily Martin said of the princess: “She’s very natural and obviously genuinely interested and I think that’s really important.”
Kate added: “She’s really curious and wants to help.”
Mr Martin said: “I think prison visits are an interesting place to go because not much is known about prisons. I’m really happy to be able to get some positive press and see her doing a good job.” is [we’re] trying to achieve. ”
