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Kate, who turned 35 on Monday, arrived first at the Anna Freud Children’s Centre where she met with parents and children under the age of five in the Early Years Parenting Unit to learn more about the facilities work.
Kate, dressed in a primary blue coat-dress from designer Eponine, listened in thoughtfully as a group of mothers opened up about their treatment programs which work to overcome and manage family history of abuse and addiction.
The stunning Duchess was welcomed by quite the crowd!
Of course, Kate’s signature blow-dry was present at the occasion as well.
Kate’s gorgeous coat-dress was designed by Eponine and can be snapped up for the hefty sum of $2,600.
Kate, sympathising with the courageous mothers, praised them for their efforts.
“Parenting is tough,” she said.
“And with the history and all the things and the experiences you’ve all witnessed, to do that on top of your own anxieties, and the lack of support you also received as mothers…I find it extraordinary how you’ve managed actually. So really well done.”
Kate certainly does appear to be an excellent listener!
Kate shared her own parenting trials and tribulations with the mums present at the event.
At the centre Kate also joined in on a “theraplay” session which works to facilitate the attachment relationship between parents and their children. Kensington Palace shared a precious clip of Kate’s involvement in the session on their Twitter account.
In the clip, the Duchess hands an adorable blonde-haired little boy a toy before he happily exclaims, “Hi!” in response.
The Anna Freud Centre is one of eight partner charities of Heads Together, an organisation spearheaded by Prince William, brother Prince Harry and of course, Kate herself.
It’s clear Kate brought a smile to everyone’s face!
Here Kate can be seen partaking in one of the centre’s “theraplay” sessions.
Joined by her adoring husband Prince William, 34, Kate’s next engagement was at the Child Bereavement UK Centre in East London.
According to the facilities website, the charity “supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.”
At the centre, Kate and William were first briefed about the amazing work the centre carries out before they were escorted over to a group of children and their parents who were making memory jars.
The jars were tightly-packed with layers upon layers of multi-coloured salts, with each colour representing a specific memory of their loved one.
Kate was joined by her beloved husband William at her second engagement for the day.
The engagement concluded with a cake cutting to mark the centre’s first anniversary.
Drawing from his own life experience, Prince William comforted nine-year-old Aoife, who lost her beloved father to pancreatic cancer six years ago.
William, who will mark the 20th anniversary of his mother Princess Diana’s death in August, bent down to the youngster’s eye level and said, “I lost my mummy when I was very young too.”
He continued: “Do you know what happened to me? You know I lost my mummy when I was very young too. I was 15 and my brother was 12.”
Aoife’s mother, Marie, said afterward: “I couldn’t believe it when he started to talk about his mother. It was very emotional and I was willing myself not to start to cry. I almost did. I am telling my children that if they take anything away from this day, it is what he said about how important it is to talk. Kids do not forget that.”
She added: “Sometimes it hurts but we can remember the happy things too. It is so important to talk.”
The much-loved Prince spoke openly with little Aoife.
Wills was able to draw from his own personal experience to relate to little Aofies tragic loss.
William also spoke to 12-year-old Shinobi Irons who recently lost his grandmother and godmother. Speaking again of his late mother, Prince William he admitted that he was “very angry” when she died in 1997.
Speaking of the touching interaction, Shinobi’s mother said, “He told my son that when his mum died he was 15 at the time and he was very angry and found it very difficult to talk about it. So it was very important that Shinobi talked to somebody about how he was feeling even now years on.”
She added: “It was very personal and it was very special.”
It’s clear the stunning couple are already making their mark on 2017!
