She’s week away from giving birth and this morning, the Duchess of Cambridge looked every inch the glowing mother-to-be as she arrived to officially open the new headquarters of children’s mental health charity Place2Be.
Kate, 36, recycled a blue bespoke dress by maternity brand Seraphine for the visit, just weeks after she wore it to lunch with the Norwegian royals at the palace in Oslo.
Kate will launch the charity’s building in London which will allow more counsellors, teachers and school leaders to be trained and provide a new home for the charity’s research and evaluation teams.
The Duchess will use the visit to learn more about the training provided and research conducted by Place2Be around children’s mental health.
Kate, who is expecting her third child in April, has an interest in supporting mothers, teachers and parents in order to ensure children have the best possible start in life.
During the visit on Wednesday she will take part in a discussion with mental health professionals, who have completed one of Place2Be’s accredited child counselling qualifications, and school leaders who have participated in the charity’s Mental Health Champions programme.
Kate will also meet staff and pupils from one of the charity’s longstanding partner schools, Albion Primary School in Rotherhithe, where Place2Be has been providing mental health support for pupils, families and staff for 16 years.
The Duchess of Cambridge arriving to open the new headquarters of the children’s mental health charity Place2Be in London
The Duchess joined children from Albion Primary school in the replica Place2Be Room where they’re able to think, talk and make art on the subject of what makes a good friend with their Place2Be counsellor
The Duchess of Cambridge previously wore her blue Seraphine dress to lunch at Oslo’s royal palace in early February with Norway’s Crown Princess Mette Marit and Crown Prince Haakon, Prince William and Norway’s King Harald and Queen Sonja
Kate, 36, showcased her pregnancy curves in a blue maternity dress by Serpahine
And she will join a roundtable meeting with members of Place2Be’s research and evaluation team, and the independent Research Advisory Group, to discuss how the charity uses evidence and research to inform and continuously improve practice.
It’s been a busy week for the Duchess who yesterday visited Pegasus Primary School in Oxford to see the work of Family Links, a charity which works with schools to support children and parents with their emotional wellbeing.
It’s been a hectic few months for the expectant mother who has had her busiest start to the year to date – completing 38 official engagements so far despite being weeks from giving birth.
Kate, who is more than seven months pregnant, has had a whirlwind calendar so far – including a jam-packed overseas tour to Sweden and Norway.
The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to Ruby, a pupil from Albion Primary School, during a visit to officially open the new headquarters of children’s mental health charity Place2Be
Pregnant Kate looked blooming in a blue maternity dress as she was welcomed to the new Place2Be headquarters in London
Pregnant Kate carried a small suede clutch bag as she arrived to officially open the new headquarters of Place2Be
During the same period in 2016, Kate had completed seven official engagements, according to the Royal Court Circular.
The Duchess had a busier diary in 2015 – when she was pregnant with Princess Charlotte – completing 13 official engagements.
In the past, she and Prince William have been accused of not pulling their weight, with the couple often completing fewer engagements than older members of the royal family over the course of a year.
Experts say the recent influx of engagements may be due to Kate wanting to help Meghan with her first steps into royal life, as well as the Duchess preparing to take time off after the birth of her third child.