The Duchess of Cambridge looked perfectly polished on a visit to a north London secondary school today.
Kate, 39, wore a matching £299 pink coat and £75 roll neck jumper, both from Hobbs, tailored trousers and suede pumps for the outing to Nower Hill High School in Harrow.
The Duchess joined in a science lesson where year 8 pupils learned about neuroscience and the importance of early childhood development on the brain.
The royal, who shared a desk with some of the pupils, said she found the children’s enthusiasm and engagement inspiring.
She tried her hand at a worksheet and asked the children whether they found the lesson ‘interesting’ and if they had covered the topic before.
Out and about: The Duchess of Cambridge went back to the classroom today to sit in on a science class discussing the effect of early childhood experiences on babies’ brains
The Duchess of Cambridge looked perfectly polished on her visit to a north London secondary school today. Kate (pictured right), 39, wore a berry coloured coat, tailored trousers and suede pumps for the outing to Nower Hill High School in Harrow
The Duchess joined in a science lesson, pictured, where year 8 pupils learned about neuroscience and the importance of early childhood development on the brain. The royal said she found the children’s enthusiasm and engagement inspiring
The science lesson focused on the neuroscience underpinning how caregiver’s behaviour is pivotal to childhood development and children’s future outcomes.
The topic is closely linked to one of the cornerstone’s of the Duchess’s royal work.
Through her work with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, launched this summer, Kate is aiming to highlight how what we experience in early childhood shapes the developing brain, which is why positive relationships, environments and experiences during this period are so crucial.
Later the Duchess is expected to join a meeting of Chief Executives of Academy Trusts at Buckingham Palace who will have been briefed on the results of Oxford University’s research project.
The outing comes after Prince William and Kate Middleton reportedly dropped the BBC for their Christmas special after the broadcaster’s two-part series The Princes and the Press aired on Monday night.
The Christmas charity fundraiser, hosted by the Duchess with William watching on at Westminster Abbey, will instead be aired by ITV.
All smiles: The royal mother-of-three couldn’t keep the smile from her face during her visit to the secondary school in London
The Duchess of Cambridge sat down at a desk alongside year 8 students to learn more about their work, pictured. The visit focused on the importance of early childhood development, which is of particular interest to the Duchess
Mower Hill headteacher Miss Voden said afterwards that it had been an ‘honour’ to have to duchess (pictured above) visit
An industry insider said: ‘It was all arranged to be on BBC1 but it was switched in the last few days because of the terrible row over the documentary.
‘And things are likely to get a lot worse between the Royal Family and the BBC before they get better as the second part of the documentary threatens to go further.’
MailOnline was not immediately able to confirm the Christmas special was meant to appear on the BBC or when ITV was offered the rights to air the concert.
The first episode of the two-part BBC2 series The Princes and The Press aired on Monday night and detailed media coverage of the young royals from 2012 to 2018, when Harry and Meghan became engaged.
Speaking about the decision to drop the BBC for the Christmas concert, a TV industry source told the Sun: ‘This is a real coup for ITV. It is a brand new format — the royals have never hosted a televised TV concert before. And to have the Duchess leading on it is a big deal.
The class was being taught by Mariam Kassir and after saying hello, Kate quietly took her seat at one of the tables (pictured)
After being greeted by head Louise Voden and head of science, Zoe Watson, Kate (pictured) walked through the playground to the classroom
‘Naturally most royal programming goes automatically to the BBC as the national broadcaster. Now it looks like they will work more with ITV in the future.’
The source said ITV was ‘surprised but delighted’ by the sudden change of plan, adding, ‘it will be a fantastic Christmas carol concert that will be TV gold for viewers at home.’
They added Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte may join their parents for filming at Westminster Abbey.
Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Clarence House last night issued an extraordinary joint statement over the documentary.
It said it was ‘disappointing’ that the BBC had chosen to air allegations surrounding Harry and Meghan’s departure from Britain and accused the broadcaster of giving credibility to ‘overblown and unfounded claims’ about the Royal Family.
Buckingham Palace earlier reportedly threatened a boycott on future projects with the BBC after courtiers were not allowed to view the controversial documentary before the first episode was aired last night.
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