The Duchess of Cambridge got into a spot of bother today as she got her heel stuck in a metal grate on her way to open a new addiction treatment centre in Essex.
Kate, who is seven months pregnant, wrapped up in a vibrant blue £660 coat from British label goat as she arrived in Wickford on Wednesday to officially open the new centre built by Action on Addiction, of which she is patron.
Showing just a hint of baby bump, the Duchess paired her coat, which is currently on sale for £330, with a small box clutch, sheer tights and black pointed pumps – which made it tricky to navigate the terrain – as she shook hands with charity staff and council officials.
The new centre first opened its doors to patients in October 2017 and hosts a rolling cycle of nine-week long addiction recovery programmes.
During her visit to the centre today Kate, 36, is set to learn more about the charity’s community-based recovery programme, Clouds in the Community, and will hear from some of the people who have benefited from it.
Blue for a boy? The Duchess of Cambridge opted for royal blue as she touched down in Essex to open a new addiction treatment centre built by Action On Addiction on Wednesday
Blue for a boy? Kate, who is seven months pregnant, wrapped up in a vibrant £660 coat from British label goat as she arrived in Wickford on Wednesday to officially open the new centre built by Action on Addiction, of which she is patron
The Duchess will also join a round-table discussion with healthcare professionals, meet staff and clients at different points of their recovery, and attend a reception to commemorate the opening.
Clouds in the Community is a self-help addiction recovery programme (SHARP) that provides an alternative to residential treatment, and enables the charity to provide services for more people in more places.
The programme is designed to be a starting point for long term recovery and abstinence, and leads to improvements in participants’ physical and psychological health, self-efficacy, and overall quality of life.
Independent evaluation of the programme in Essex showed that almost 80 per cent of clients did not return to any treatment service upon completion of the scheme.
Action on Addiction offers life-saving treatment to individuals and families at its flagship treatment centre, Clouds House in Wiltshire, and at its community-based treatment centres in Essex and Liverpool.
The charity has several sites around the country, including its flagship Clouds House centre in Wiltshire which offers residential treatment, and a further community-based site in Liverpool.
It treats all forms of addiction including alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling addiction, sex addiction and food-related disorders.
All smiles! The Duchess, who is preparing to welcome her third child in two months, looked radiant as she beamed and waved at well-wishers who had gathered outside the centre in Wickford this morning
Important cause: Clouds in the Community is a self-help addiction recovery programme (SHARP) that provides an alternative to residential treatment, and enables the charity to provide services for more people in more places
Thrifty Kate strikes again! The Duchess’s vibrant Goat Ellroy coat is currently half price, down from £660 to £330 in the sale. It matched perfectly with the royal’s sapphire engagement ring and matching earrings
Solo engagement: During her visit today, the Duchess will join a round-table discussion with healthcare professionals, meet staff and clients at different points of their recovery, and attend a reception to commemorate the opening
Close to her heart: The charity has several sites around the country, including its flagship Clouds House centre in Wiltshire which offers residential treatment, and a further community-based site in Liverpool
Easy does it! The Duchess was careful to avoid a wardrobe malfunction as she stepped out of the car this morning to visit the new centre. The centre opened its doors in October and hosts a rolling cycle of nine-week addiction recovery programmes
The Duchess was escorted from her car by an elderly man in uniform who introduced her to council officials as well as charity staff. After heading inside, Kate met people who have had support from Action on Addiction in Wickford
Hair today, gone tomorrow: The Duchess was sporting a bouncy blow dry as she arrived in Essex this afternoon. She paired her vibrant blue designer coat with a black dress, pointed heels and a small box clutch
Nice to meet you! The Duchess was all smiles as she arrived in Wickford today. While at the centre this afternoon, Kate will learn more about the charity’s community-based recovery programme Clouds in the Community
It also offers education to degree level at The Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies and funds and promotes research into effective responses to addiction.
Kate, who has just returned from a royal tour of Sweden and Norway with husband William, is currently expecting her third child in April.
She became patron of Action on Addiction in January 2012, one of the first four charities she chose to support on an official basis.
By choosing patronage of an addiction charity as one of her first official roles Kate follows in the footsteps of the late Princess Diana, who became Patron of Turning Point in 1985.
She has visited a number of their facilities over the past six years, including in Liverpool and Wiltshire, and in October 2013 she held the 100 Women in Hedge Funds philanthropic initiatives reception dinner at Kensington Palace in aid of the charity.