Day Two of Royal Visit Sweden is already underway! Today, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, visited the Karolinksa Institute, Matteusskolan and NK, a department store. After the engagements, the couple had tea with Victoria and Daniel at Haga Palace, the couple’s home, before preparing for their evening event at Fotograsfiska Gallery.
The couple’s first stop at the Karonlinska Institute focused on subject matter close to the Cambridges’ hearts: mental health. Karolinska is one of the largest and most high-profile medical universities and apparently they conduct 40 percent of the medical research in Sweden. Indeed, they are in charge of selecting the Nobel Laureate in the fields of physiology or medicine. Given the Cambridges’ work with Heads Together and Victoria’s past experience in battling an eating disorder, an experience with which she has been candid, both couples are advocates for early intervention when it comes to addressing mental health issues.
The couples listened to a briefing from senior staff at the Institute, which included discussion of renewed focus on the benefits of physical activity and exercise, as well as rising suicide rates among young people.
The couples then moved to Matteusskolan, a school, where the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program, focused on 14-16-year-olds, operates. They sat it on activity sessions with children and then William delivered a speech on the importance of young people engaging in conversation on mental health to students, teachers and other invited guests.
Outside, they took time to greet gathered crowds, which included a large number of children who turned out to see their British guests. Many high-fives were given amidst waving British flags.
From there they moved on to NK, a large department store in Stockholm to open a new exhibit featuring UK designs and brands, which feels like an appropriate segue to Kate’s clothes.
Today she chose a new red and white coat by Catherine Walker, a designer featured prominently yesterday. Once inside, she also revealed a white bouclé dress by Alexander McQueen, marking the first McQueen of 2018 (no doubt there will be more!). The entire look was complemented by her burgundy Tod’s heels and her burgundy Chanel handbag, first debuted in Paris.
I’m a fan of today’s ensemble, but while I like the coat, I absolutely love the dress. So much so that I’m slightly disappointed it won’t be recyclable once Kate gives birth.
Indeed, since Kate usually favors looser clothing while pregnant and winter has necessitated a plethora of coats, it can be easy to overlook how far along the Duchess is at any given point. Not today! The dress’s tighter silhouette underlined that Kate is entering her third trimester and April’s due date is fast approaching.
Last but not least, William and Kate went to Haga Palace for tea with Victoria and Daniel where they met the couple’s two young children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar. I think it was at this point that we all wished Prince George and Princess Charlotte had been able to attend, because the idea of all four royal children wreaking havoc on this elegant get together is too good.
Anyway, that’s a wrap on the day events – we’ll reconvene here once the evening is underway and I’ll update as more photos/videos (particularly from the tea) become available.