The Duchess of Cambridge carried out her first solo engagement on Wednesday, May 1 after nearly a month away. The break was thanks to a combination of Easter and school breaks, as well as the fact that the Duke of Cambridge did a three week stint with the UK’s Security and Intelligence Agencies in April. My guess is that with William gone for a significant chunk of time, she opted to have one parent home for the children.
A “spring break,” if you will, isn’t abnormal for Kate either. Last year was a bit of an aberration thanks to her maternity leave with Prince Louis, but in 2017 there was a also a few-week gap in her engagements around May and early June that I believe (if memory serves) coincided with the children’s school schedule.
Regardless, she was back in action on Wednesday on behalf of her patronage, the Anna Freud Centre, helping to open the Pears Family School, the Centre’s new London headquarters.
Kate participated in a roundtable discussion with staff, and then engaged with a few selected students, many of whom shared their own backgrounds and what they were getting out of the services provided.
The classroom’s aim is to engage parents in supporting their children, as well as provide excluded children with a safe space to process mental health issues and trauma.
Kate delivered brief remarks, the text of which I’ve included in full below. Needless to say, the engagement complemented the Duchess’s focus on early intervention.
Kate wore a green dress by Emilia Wickstead with Gianvito Rossi heels and carried a Mulberry clutch. It was a public debut, but I would note that it appears to be the same dress as the lilac Emilia Wickstead she wore in Germany in the summer of 2017, so it’s quite possible she’s had this piece for a while. The cut of it is stunning, and while I was never completely in love with the lilac version, the emerald is a win in my book.
And, of course, it’s always good to see Kate out and about! With the Duchess of Sussex on maternity leave, I would imagine she’s going to have a full docket through the summer.
Oh, and I’m including this photo because I think Kate look eerily like Pippa here!
Kate’s Remarks:
Each of you, in your own words, and in your own way, have explained why this matters so much, and how passionate you are about the Anna Freud Centre. What you have said really brings its work to life.
We are all here today because we care so much about transforming the mental health of children, young people, and their families.
I have learnt so much about early childhood development and the importance of support for parents through your work here at the Anna Freud Centre. This is something I really do care about.
The ambition for the new Kantor Centre of Excellence is hugely inspiring. The bringing together of research, education, practice and policy, all in one place, will take Anna Freud Centre’s mission to the next level. It is testament to what can be achieved when people work together to realise a shared vision.
Thank you all for playing your part in creating this amazing new facility. I am delighted to be here and hugely proud to share this moment with you, and to open The Anna Freud Centre’s National Centre for Excellence.