The Duchess of Cambridge displayed her growing bump in blue as she kicked off a busy day of engagements inLondon this morning.
Glowing Kate, who is expecting her third child in April, wore a collarless blue coat and matching dress with white piping for her visit to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, just hours after Kensington Palace announced she had become RCOG’s new patron.
Still visible on Kate’s right hand was a henna tattoo she had during a visit to Sunderland’s new Northern Spire bridge six days ago, which she had evidently had trouble scrubbing off.
The Duchess paired her vibrant coat – believed to be bespoke Catherine Walker – with a pair of suede Jimmy Choo pumps, a £8,400 Tanzanite pendant and matching earrings from G. Collins & Sons, and a Stuart Weitzman clutch as she touched down in Marylebone on Tuesday morning.
The 36-year-old royal learned about the college’s global health programmes, designed to reduce maternal and newborn mortality worldwide, and also attended a discussion on tackling the stigma around women’s health – in particular, maternal mental health, a subject on which she has spoken extensively in the past.
The Duchess heard about the RCOG’s education and training programmes for doctors wishing to specialise in this field, and how practical examinations fit into the training process.
The Duchess of Cambridge collapsed into fits of giggles as she chatted to staff at RCOG in London’s Marylebone this morning. Kensington Palace announced this morning she had become the college’s new patron – along with the Nurse Now campaign
All smiles: The Duchess looked to be in excellent spirits as she chatted to staff at the RCOG this morning – the first engagement in a busy day for Kate who will later learn about the Nurse Now campaign at St. Thomas’ Hospital
Kate wore a collarless blue coat and matching dress with white piping for her visit to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on Tuesday, just hours after it was announced she had become RCOG’s new patron
Painted lady: The Duchess was still sporting traces of a henna tattoo she had during a visit to a community centre in Sunderland last week (pictured), having evidently struggled to scrub the semi-permanent inking off
The Duchess, sporting a bouncy blow dry, was glowing as she arrived at the RCOG this morning after being announced patron. During her visit today she will discuss maternal mental health, a subject close to her heart
The Duchess could be seen clutching a colourful bouquet of flowers as she left the RCOG in London this morning – marking the end of her first ever visit to the colleague as patron. She appeared to have handed her clutch to an assistant
She then learned how the college’s workshops and continued training support trainee doctors to develop safe surgical techniques and essential clinical skills in obstetrics and gynaecology.
The Duchess also learned more about the work carried out by the RCOG’s Centre for Women’s Global Health, which supports communities across the world with women’s maternal and gynaecological health, and aims to reduce maternal and newborn fatalities.
Kate is particularly interesting in hearing about the Leading Safe Choices programme, which operates in South Africa and Tanzania, according to Kensington Palace.
Her visit today kicked off with a discussion focused on exploring how the stigma which surrounds women’s health, and in particular maternal mental health, can be challenged.
The RCOG works to improve healthcare for women everywhere, by setting standards for clinical practice, providing doctors with training and lifelong learning, and advocating for women’s healthcare worldwide.
Founded in 1929, the College now has over 16,000 members worldwide, and works with a range of partners both in the UK and globally to encourage the study of obstetrics and gynaecology and advance its science and practice.
Later, Kate will visit London’s St Thomas’ Hospital to help launch a campaign to promote nursing worldwide.
Head to toe blue: The Duchess paired her vibrant coat with a pair of blue suede pumps, a sapphire pendant and matching earrings as she touched down in Marylebone on Tuesday morning
Important cause: During her visit today, royal is set to learn about the college’s global health programmes designed to reduce maternal and newborn mortality, and will attend a discussion on tackling the stigma around women’s health
Body art: Still visible on Kate’s right hand was a henna tattoo she had during a visit to Sunderland’s Northern Spire bridge – a new community project – six days ago
She is launching the three-year Nursing Now campaign with a hospital visit and talks with nurses from different nations about the value of the work they do.
The scheme aims to support nurses to become leaders so they can play a greater role in health policy decision-making, helping countries meet the pressing health challenges of the modern-day world.
Kate is set to visit the Snow Leopard ward during her visit, to get a first-hand look of the work the nurses do in caring for children who need help breathing to stay alive.
The nurse-led team trains carers and relatives how to use the children’s ventilation equipment to prepare them for going home.
The Snow Leopard Ward at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, which is part of St Thomas’, cares for children who need help breathing to stay alive. The nurse-led team train carers and relatives how to use the child’s ventilation equipment to prepare them for going home.
Kate will then join a roundtable discussion with nurses across the career spectrum, from trainees to consultant nurses, and from a range of different countries to find out what it means to be a 21st century nurse and what impact the Nursing Now campaign could have on the profession.
Kate, who is expecting her third child in less than two months, was beaming as she arrived in Marylebone this morning
Guest of honour: During her visit today, the Duchess will firstly hear about the RCOG’s education and training programmes for doctors wishing to specialise in this field, and how practical examinations fit into the training process
Pregnancy glow: Kate kept her makeup to a minimum, sporting just a hint of blusher along with her signature smoky eye
Kate paired her blue ensemble with an £8,000 pendant and matching earrings from G. Collins & Sons this morning
Finally, The Duchess will join a launch event in the Main Hall to deliver a speech to mark the launch of the Nursing Now campaign.
Nurse Now is being run as a programme of the Burdett Trust for Nursing, in collaboration with the International Council of Nurses and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The three-year global campaign was founded by nurses and other health experts based on the findings of the 2016 Triple Impact report, produced by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health.
It found that empowering nurses boosts health globally and also helps improve gender equality and build stronger economies.
Kensington Palace announced this morning that the Duchess has officially become Patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), as well as Patron of the Nursing Now campaign.
The Duchess has seen first-hand the impact of front-line medical professionals during visits to hospitals and hospices, and through her work in support of children’s mental health and early intervention. The Duchess’ patronages at RCOG and Nursing Now provide an opportunity to shine a light on these vital professions, both in the UK and internationally.
Paired to perfection: Kate teamed her blue coat and dress with a small suede clutch, G. Collins jewellery and pumps
Kate, who was sporting a slightly darker shade of chestnut brown, showcased a bouncy blow dry this morning
The Duchess, who is just weeks away from welcoming her third baby, was showcasing an unmistakable pregnancy glow
During her visit today, Kate will see how the college’s workshops and continued training support trainee doctors to develop safe surgical techniques and essential clinical skills in obstetrics and gynaecology
The Duchess looked to be in excellent spirits as she chatted to Lesley Regan, President of the Royal College of Obstretitians and Gynaecologists
During her visit today, the Duchess will learn about the work carried out by the RCOG’s Centre for Women’s Global Health, which supports communities across the world with women’s maternal and gynaecological health
While meeting staff at the RCOG this morning, Kate will also hear about the Leading Safe Choices programme, which operates in South Africa and Tanzania
Professor Lesley Regan, President of the RCOG, said: ‘I am absolutely thrilled that The Duchess of Cambridge has graciously accepted our invitation to become the RCOG’s second Patron, after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. It is a great honour for the College, now in its 89th year, and its 16,000 members in the UK and around the world.
‘We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness whose support will help to raise our profile as a medical charity that champions the provision of high quality women’s healthcare at home and beyond. We know that maternal health and mental wellbeing is an issue close to The Duchess’s heart, as a young mother herself. We hope that this new relationship will build on
our work to improve healthcare for women everywhere, and ensure that women’s views on the care they receive are at the heart of everything we do.’
Lord Nigel Crisp, Co-Chair Nursing Now Campaign, said: ‘On behalf of Nursing Now supporters across the world I am delighted to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cambridge as our Patron.
‘Our campaign aims to improve health globally by raising the profile and status of nurses worldwide – influencing policymakers and supporting nurses themselves to lead, learn and build a global movement.
‘We are delighted to have a Patron with such a strong commitment to nursing and a history in her family of volunteer nurses. We look forward to working with Her Royal Highness as we support nursing and nurses across the world.’