‘It’s needed more than ever:’ Duchess of Cornwall pens heartfelt Christmas message urging the nation to pick up the phone and check in on lonely relatives amid a ‘hugely challenging year’
- Duchess of Cornwall, 73, wrote about wave of loneliness sweeping the nation
- The Silver Line patron urged those alone over Christmas to call the helpline
- She also asked people to get in touch with people who will be alone this holiday
The Duchess of Cornwall has urged the nation to pick up the phone and check in on lonely relatives this festive season.
Writing in Stella Magazine, Camilla, 73, published a Christmas message in which she discussed an exchange of letters she shared with a lady named Marlene.
The royal said that earlier this year she received a letter from Marlene, who lives in the north of England, who told her of the loneliness she had experienced during the coronavirus lockdown.
Marlene had suffered a twisted ankle which had left her unable to leave the house, adding that her daughter, who works as a nurse, was unable to visit her.
The Duchess of Cornwall, 73, (pictured) has written a message to the nation urging those facing loneliness this Christmas to contact The Silver Line for help (file image)
Camilla, who is the royal patron of The Silver Line, said she put Marlene in touch with the confidential telephone helpline.
Writing in Stella, Camilla penned: ‘It is a helpline that has proved a lifeline to thousands and I thought that Marlene might find a good antidote to isolation in a conversation with a Silver Line volunteer.’
She explained that Marlene wrote to her again following a chat with the helpline saying that she felt happier and more optimistic looking forward.
The Duchess pointed out that demand for The Silver Line has risen by around 31 per cent during this ‘hugely challenging year’ – adding that it has been needed ‘more than ever.’
Camilla also encouraged people who think that friends or family may be spending Christmas alone to call them and check in this holiday
She also highlighted research conducted by Age UK which found that around 250,000 elderly people go without speaking to anyone for a whole week.
The Duchess encouraged those who are experiencing loneliness to get in contact with The Silver Line, saying: ‘They have a team of wonderful people, ready and waiting at the end of the telephone to cheer you up.’
She also urged people who can help out to also reach out themselves to loved ones who are at risk of being alone this Christmas.
Camilla’s Christmas message comes after she made a surprise appearance on the final of Strictly Come Dancing.
She joined a collection of key workers, fans and Strictly stars in the emotional clips as they spoke about the positive effect of the 2020 series.
Camilla said: ‘I think it’s just lifted our spirits, it’s lifted the whole country’s spirits.’
She added: ‘I’m very excited [about the final], I know who I’ll be voting for! I’d like to, on behalf of everybody who watches Strictly, to say an enormous thank you to everybody.
‘Everybody who has been involved in this production, in this particularity difficult year, you have given everybody so much pleasure and you’ve uplifted the nation!’