This week the Duchess of Cambridge left her husband, Prince William at home with the couple’s two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte to embark on her first solo trip abroad to the Netherlands where she carried out a busy day of official engagements.
Less than a fortnight after returning from her glorious tour of Canada with her whole family, the Duchess was acting as a representative of the Queen when she called in on Dutch monarch, King Willem-Alexander for lunch at Villa Eikenhorst before making a trip to the Mauritshuis museum to see an exhibition of Dutch masters.
The visit to the museum would have no doubt been a highlight for the 34-year-old royal who has a passion for art and is the patron of Britain’s National Portrait Gallery. Kate also teamed her powder blue Catherine Walker outfit with pearl earrings, which seemed rather fitting while viewing Johannes Vermeer’s 17th-century classic, Girl with a Pearl Earring.
The mum-of-two also met children taking part in the gallery’s learning programme and later called in at the British Ambassador’s Residence where she engaged in a roundtable discussion on issues of addiction, intervention and mental health.
The Duchess, along with her husband Prince William is a proud advocate for the importance of mental health, especially when it comes to children and families. Just yesterday Kate joined William and brother-in-law, Prince Harry for a ride on the London Eye with other mental health campaigners to show their support for their Heads Together initiative on World Mental Health Day.
Kate’s final appointment for her busy Netherlands visit was a visit to Bouwkeet in Rotterdam – the social Makerspace of Bospolder-Tussendijken. The initiative provides workshop spaces for creativity and design in the economically deprived district and the Duchess seemed impressed as she met with youngsters who were engaged in activities such as bike mechanics and robotics.
Click through the gallery to see Kate on her tour of the Netherlands…
Kate touches down in the Netherlands.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meets King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands at Villa Eikenhorst.
Kate looks at the famous Dutch 17th century painting ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ by Johannes Vermeer during her visit to the historic Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague’s city centre.
The Duchess of Cambridge visits the Art Workshop where children were having a painting lesson in the Mauritshuis Gallery
Kate greets fans at a street reception.
Catherine attends a woodworking class at Bouwkeet, a workshop project for teenagers.
Catherine meets pupils in a woollen class at Bouwkeet.
The Duchess of Cambridge attends a robotics class at Bouwkeet.
