Hello and welcome to the ECHO's new 'Our Liverpool' feature.
This handy round-up showcases the best of ECHO content and addresses the major talking points on Merseyside. The digest will run every morning and afternoon from Monday - Friday and will include the articles we've been most excited to tell and what to look out for.
I will be joined by a rotating team of ECHO writers to make sure you never miss the stories that matter in our region. Today's launch can only start in one place as any hopes the city might ease gently into the New Year were quickly dashed when the Royals arrived on Merseyside.
READ MORE: Woman, 81, shouts six powerful words to Prince William
Sylvia's message from Scousers to the Royal Family
ECHO reporters, Olivia Williams and Remy Greasley, donned their finest glad rags to brilliantly cover Prince William and Princess Kate's visit from start to finish. Huge crowds gathered at the new Royal Hospital yesterday to greet the Prince and Princess of Wales as they made their first public appearance since the release of Prince Harry's bombshell book, Spare, which they were asked about just moments into their visit.
The excitement surrounding the visit was perfectly summed up by an 81-year-old woman named Sylvia who was thrilled to command His Royal Highness' ear for a brief moment. She used the time to send a message from the city as Sylvia said: "Keep going Will. Scousers love you." You can read the full story here.
Kate and William's visit shouldn't distract from wider NHS issues
The new Royal Liverpool hospital only opened in October, but it has already been hit with a number of issues due to the growing NHS crisis. The ECHO has published reports and images of distressing scenes in the emergency rooms at the Royal and other local hospitals over recent weeks.
The ECHO's political editor, Liam Thorp, has been at the forefront of the coverage and issued an important reminder yesterday about how the excitement of the visit should not distract from the huge issues at the new facility. You can read the full piece here.
Not everyone knew about the Royal visit
The Royal visit was kept top secret as even staff at the facility remained unaware until the very last moment. ECHO reporter, Abigail Nicholson, spoke to Martha Cottrell yesterday and the alcohol nurse revealed she didn't know about the hospital's Royal visitors until she heard screams outside the hospital from excited people. You can read the full story here
The ECHO was told about the visit from sources at Kensington Palace, but were under strict instructions to keep the visit under wraps until the Royals arrived at their destination. You can look back at our live coverage here.
And finally... an unlikely new star was born
Prince William and Princess Kate's visit was understandably met with frenzied excitement from the people who greeted them. However, it seems not everyone was so thrilled to meet the royals.
Hilarious pictures from ECHO photographer, Iain Watts, captured the heart-warming moment Rosie the therapy dog met Prince William and Kate. Prince William was seen giving the golden retriever a treat before Kate crouched down to stroke her.
People in the room were in hysterics as Rosie's response to meeting the future King and Queen was to take a well deserved nap. You can read the full story here.
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