The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge went ‘back to school’ today as part of their work for mental health initiative Heads Together.
They visited Stewards Academy, a school supported by Place2Be, of which the Duchess is Patron. It is also one of the team of charities brought together for the Heads Together campaign being spearheaded by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to change the conversation on mental health from shame to support.
During their visit the royal couple joined a lesson on "big change" run by a small number of students involved with the school's mentor scheme, where older students support new pupils in their first year of school.
They then took their seats in a school assembly to hear speeches and watch performances from students on the topic of coping with big changes. Prince William also make a short speech.
Later William and Kate were introduced to a small number of parents to discuss how adults and carers can encourage pupils to talk about big changes in their lives.
Kate made a designer debut today, wearing a new dress by Altuzarra. The luxury women's ready-to-wear brand was launched in New York in 2008 by French-born designer Joseph Altuzarra. His brand is influenced by his multicultural upbringing and his international education in fashion.
The Altuzarra piece is the 'Aimee' polka-dot dress. The sky-blue dress is speckled with a black and white dot pattern. It has a button from and a slim silhouette with a flattering gathered bib and cropped sleeves. It retails for US$2,150 and is currently available at Neiman Marcus.
Kate completed the look with her trusty LK Bennett accessories. On her feet were the 'Fern' trench leather pumps and she carried the matching 'Nina' clutch.
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Kensington Palace has released further details of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's upcoming royal tour of Canada. The Palace has also confirmed the Duke and Duchess will bring their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, with them to Canada!
The week long tour will run from 24th September to 1st October 2016. Here's an overview of the activities the royal couple will undertake during the tour:
DAY 1: 24th September - Victoria, British Columbia
Arrival: The family are scheduled to arrive in Victoria in the afternoon. They will travel to Victoria with the Royal Canadian Air Force and will be greeted at Victoria Airport before moving to Government House – where they will be based throughout the tour.
Official welcome at Parliament Buildings: William & Kate will officially open their tour by paying respects at Victoria’s Cenotaph and will unveil a new plaque paying tribute to the veterans of Canada’s involvement in the Afghanistan conflict. The official welcome to Canada will then get underway, featuring an honour guard and speeches. This event will be open to the public. Government House Meetings: Following the Parliament events, William & Kate will return to Government House where they will have meetings with senior Canadian leaders.
DAY 2: 25th September - Vancouver, British Columbia
Travel to Vancouver: In the morning, The Duke and Duchess will travel from Victoria to Vancouver by float plane. Float planes are the quickest way to travel between the two cities and are one of the real symbols of this part of the world.
Civic Welcome: They will land in the harbour in the heart of Vancouver where they will receive a civic welcome in Jack Poole Plaza located by the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre. This welcome will allow The Duke and Duchess to get an immediate sense of Vancouver's energy and dynamism. Downtown East Side visit: From here, The Duke and Duchess will travel to the Downtown East Side of Vancouver to meet the team at Sheway, a charity that has achieved remarkable things for vulnerable mothers who are battling addiction and other issues. The link between addiction and family breakdown is something that has been a major priority of The Duchess's charitable work. Immigration Services Society visit: They will then visit the Immigration Services Society of British Columbia. Here they will meet the staff and volunteers who support over 25,000 recent migrants to Canada each year, including some of the 30,000 who have arrived in Canada over the last year from UNHCR camps that are supporting those who have fled the war in Syria. They will explore issues including housing, education, employment, language, and mental health and will have an opportunity to engage directly with Syrian refugees. Young leaders event: The Duke and Duchess will then attend an event celebrating young leaders in Canadian arts, music, sport, charity, business, and film. Kitsilano Coastguard Station: The final engagement of the day will see The Duke and Duchess learn more about the first responders who work together to keep Vancouverites safe as they enjoy life in their city. They will visit the Kitsilano Coastguard Station in Vanier park and learn about the round the clock operation to support people who come into trouble on the water that surrounds this coastal city. They will then meet with other first responders who protect the safety and physical and mental health of people in the region, including police and fire services and social workers. The Duke and Duchess will then depart the area by the Coast Guard's hovercraft before flying back to Victoria for the evening.
DAY 3: 26th September - Great Bear Rainforest & Bella Bella, British Columbia
Great Bear Rainforest arrival: The Duke and Duchess will travel to the Great Bear Rainforest – the world's largest temperate rainforest, located on the beautiful Central Coast of British Columbia. Great Bear has been named as Canada's commitment to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy (QCC). Launched at the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta, the QCC is a unique network of forest conversation initiatives, which involves all 53 countries of the Commonwealth. The QCC present a rare opportunity to unite the whole Commonwealth family and save one of the world’s most important natural habitats, forests. By creating a pan-Commonwealth network of forest conservation products, the QCC will mark Her Majesty The Queen’s service to the Commonwealth while conserving indigenous forests for future generations.
Aerial Tour of Rain Forest: Immediately on arrival at Bella Bella airport The Duke and Duchess will transfer to a float plane where they will be given an aerial tour of a section of the vast rainforest. Ceremonial Welcome: They will then land on the water at Bella Bella's main jetty where they will be ceremoniously welcomed by the Heiltsuk First Nations community. Youth Performance: From there they will be guided by young people through Bella Bella to the community centre where a youth performance will take place. There will also be an opportunity for speeches on the significance of the QCC at a separate event following this performance. Mcloughlin Bay: The party will then travel to nearby Mcloughlin Bay where the rainforest will be officially committed to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy during a brief ceremony. The party will have an opportunity to see one of the new walking trails being constructed in the area before departing by boat and returning to Victoria. British Columbia reception: That evening in Victoria, The Duke and Duchess will attend a reception hosted by the province of British Columbia at Government House.
DAY 4: 27th September - Kelowna, British Columbia & Whitehorse, Yukon
Kelowna and University of British Columbia: Will & Kate will fly to Kelowna, a city in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. Their first stop will be the Okanagan campus of the University of British Columbia. UBC is one of the world's finest research universities and recently celebrated its centenary. The Duke and Duchess will have a chance to meet with students and the wider community before watching an exhibition match with the campus' nationally ranked women's volleyball team.
Taste of British Columbia: They will then take part in the BC Government's 'Taste of British Columbia' festival at Mission Hill Winery. The Okanagan region is producing world-class wine, cheese, and food and The Duke and Duchess will have a chance to sample some of the province's best offerings. They will also meet with local young people who are learning about potential careers in food and agriculture. Whitehorse, Yukon: William and Kate will then fly to Whitehorse, Yukon. When they arrive in the early evening, they will be greeted by members of the Canadian Rangers, the military branch that provides a presence in the north of the country. The Duke and Duchess will also get to meet some of the young people who serve in the Junior Canadian Rangers. Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre: Later that evening they will watch a cultural performance at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. Their Royal Highnesses will stay in Whitehorse overnight.
DAY 5: 28th September - Whitehorse and Carcross, Yukon
MacBride Museum in Yukon: The day will begin with a visit to the MacBride Museum, where they will learn about Yukon's history.
Party on Main Street: Next up will be a colourful and fun party on Main Street in Whitehorse. Whitehorse has a thriving arts scene and local artists and craftsman will have their work on display, and you should also expect plenty of music and local food. Carcross & Traditional Welcome: The Duke and Duchess will later make their way to Carcross, a small town of less than 300 people, 70 kilometres from Whitehorse on the Klondike Highway. The scenery along this drive is spectacular. At the Carcross Commons they will have a traditional welcome from the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and will be given a tour of the recently completed buildings and public spaces there and will have a chance to say hello to the local community. Montana Mountain: The Duke and Duchess will then travel a short distance to the beautiful Montana Mountain where they will visit what must be one of the world's most picturesque destinations for mountain biking. The Single Track to Success (S2S) project on Montana Mountain not only builds world class trails, it provides life changing experiences to local youth and contributes to tourism in the area. Their Royal Highnesses will then travel down to the bottom of the track and bid farewell to the young people and the community before heading back to Whitehorse Airport and on to Victoria.
DAY 6: 29th September - Victoria, British Columbia
Children's Party: The Duke and Duchess will attend a children's party in the beautiful grounds of Government House. A group of military families have been invited to share what should be a really lovely morning with plenty of surprises for the children.
Private Time: The rest of the day will provide The Duke and Duchess some private time with their children.
DAY 7: 30th September - Haida Gwaii, British Columbia
Haida Gwaii arrival: The Duke & Duchess will visit Haida Gwaii, an archipelago on the northern coast of British Columbia that is home to the Haida Nation. When the couple arrive at Skidegate, they will transfer to a traditional Haida canoe and will help to paddle around to the beach at the Haida Heritage Centre and Museum, where they will be officially welcomed. Inside the centre they will be addressed by the President of the Haida Nation and see a cultural performance from around 30 local children.
Haida Gwaii Hospital: The Duke and Duchess will then have the honour of officially opening the new Haida Gwaii Hospital and Care Centre. This impressive new facility will house several new services that have recently transformed medical provision on the islands. People no longer have to leave Haida Gwaii to have children, for instance, and families can be close to their loved ones as they receive care late in their lives. The Duke and Duchess will meet with people who have benefitted from these services. Skidegate Youth Centre: Before leaving Haida Gwaii, The Duke and Duchess will join youth from the Skidegate Youth Centre where they will enjoy world-class fishing on the beautiful waters of the Hectate Strate. The Skidegate Youth Centre serves the youth of Skidegate and surrounding areas engage in safe and meaningful social, recreational and educational activities. The programme focuses on confidence building, physical activities and creativity, while achieving social and life skills.
DAY 8: 1st October - Victoria & Departure
Cridge Centre for the Family: The final day of the royal tour, will be a busy one for the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge. The first engagement will be a visit to the Cridge Centre for the Family – one of Victoria's most well-known charitable institutions. The Centre provides a range of services, including childcare, youth outreach, and support for women who have experienced domestic violence.
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: The Duke and Duchess will then then visit a local café where they will meet with families that have been supported by the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, one of British Columbia's leading mental health charities. Kelty uses digital and community-based tools to take mental health services and information to families throughout the province. This focus on signposting and information provision chimes closely with the work that The Duke and Duchess are focusing on along with Prince Harry through their Heads Together campaign. Sail and Life Training Society: Then they will board a tall-ship operated by the Sail and Life Training Society, a charity that uses the power of sailing to give young people skills and direction in their lives. On board will be a group of young people who are part of JACK.org – a national network of youth who are working to end stigma around mental health for their generation. The Duke and Duchess will have a chance to talk to these young people about their work while actively taking part in helping to sail the tall ship before docking in the inner harbour. Official departure ceremony: Later that afternoon The Duke and Duchess end their tour by taking part in a public official departure ceremony at Victoria Harbour Airport. The Harbour airport is located in the centre of the city and will be a perfect place for Their Royal Highnesses to demonstrate their gratitude for the hospitality that will have been extended to them over the previous week. They will then board a float plane and will have a brief tour of the southern tip of Vancouver Island before departing Canada with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
As anticipated, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are spending the end of summer with the Queen and Prince Philip at their Scottish holiday home, Balmoral Castle. On Sunday, they were photographed driving to a church service at the nearby Crathie Kirk.
Th Duchess kept her look appropriately demure for the service, wearing her tweed Micheal Kors Collection suit jacket that we have spotted her wearing several times before with a matching midi skirt.
Kate first wore the two-piece suit in late December 2015 for Sunday Service at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. She then repeated the ensemble a couple week's later for the commemoration service marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the Gallipoli battle during the First World War.
Today, Kate teamed the jacket with a new aubergine felt hat and her Sapphire & Diamond Oval Drop 'Diana' Earrings. Unfortunately, it's impossible to ID the hat from the limited photos available.
William and Kate have made the annual trip to the Highlands with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who arrived at the Scottish royal retreat on Thursday. On Saturday, the Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge were spotted driving to a picnic lunch with Prince William in the hills above Loch Muick on the estate.
The Duchess was casually dressed in what appears to be an olive green jacket or shawl collared sweater. She accessorized with her Really Wild Autumnal Partridge Scarf worn on Christmas Day 2014 and her leopard printed Alice band.
We will see Kate again on Friday when she joins Prince William at Stewards Academy in Essex as part of an engagement with Heads Together and Place2Be.
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Following yesterday's tour of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were expected to spend the full day touring the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago located just off the Cornish coast. However, heavy fog delayed their travel plans and the Duke & Duchess had to amend their itinerary.
Instead, the royal couple spent the morning in Cornwall visiting the Eden Project, the world’s largest indoor rainforest.
It is a Multiple Greenhouse Complex dominated by two huge enclosures consisting of adjoining domes which emulate a natural biome. The biomes consist of hundreds of hexagonal and pentagonal, inflated, plastic cells supported by steel frames. The largest of the two biomes simulates a Rainforest environment and the second, a Mediterranean environment.
Kate made a surprising departure from her usual style today, wearing the GAP BI-Stretch Skinny Ankle Pants.
The cotton-blend ikat blue pants feature a shape-retaining bi-stretch weave; banded waist with belt loops; hook and bar closure, zip fly; front welt pockets with hidden zippers, rear welt pockets. The pants had an original price tag of £45 before going on sale for £19.
It's no secret that Kate is fond of polka dots and stripes, but could she also be developing an affinity for Ikat print? The Duchess first wore the pattern in the form of the DVF 'Patrice' wrap dress in 2014.
Today, Kate paired the trousers with her Smythe Navy One Button Blazer.
Under the jacket she wore a new off-white ribbed knit top.
Here we see the back of it (photo via @katemiddletonus).
The consensus is, the piece is the H&M Off-the-shoulder Rib-Knit Top based on @Linda_zinha suggestion. As far as I can recall, this is the first occasion Kate has worn a piece by the Swedish multinational fast-fashion retailer.
The Duchess evidently packed light for this 2-day visit because she recycled the accessories she wore with yesterday's outfit. Kate teamed the ensemble with her comfy Monsoon 'Fleur' taupe suede wedges and trusty LK Bennett 'Natalie' straw clutch.
Kate also wore her beloved Sapphire & Diamond Oval Drop 'Diana' Earrings.
The weather cleared up after lunch so William and Kate were able to fulfill part of their planned schedule on the Isles.
They visited the Tresco Gardens and then the family business Scilly Flowers on St Martin’s, before a brief reception at the St Martin’s Community Hall.
Kate changed from the Monsoon 'Fleur' wedges to her Sebago Bala boat shoes once on St Martin's Island, and she also donned her Ray-Ban Folding Wayfarer sunglasses.
Here's a final look of Kate and William as they headed home.
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Today, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began their mini-tour of the Cornish countryside. The two-day trip to South West England marks the couple's first visit to projects in the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate established in 1337 to fund the public, charitable and private activities of the Prince of Wales, also known as The Duke of Cornwall. Prince William will inherit the Duchy of Cornwall, when his father, Prince Charles, becomes king. The duchy was created by King Edward III specifically to provide an income for the heir apparent.
Kate wowed the Cornwall crowds in a blush pink Lela Rose dress featuring her favorite fit-and-flare silhouette.
The Lela Rose Double Faced Twill Elbow Sleeve Dress is designed with body contouring seams and a band at the natural waist. Other features include half-sleeves and a soft pleated a-line skirt with a hemline that hits at the knee. The piece is from the label's Resort 2016 collection and had a price tag of US$1,295.
It is the second time Kate has worn a piece by the American designer. The Duchess first wore the brand to a reception on her last night in Australia back in 2014.
Kate teamed the midi dress with her comfy Monsoon 'Fleur' taupe suede wedges and trusty LK Bennett 'Natalie' straw clutch.
She accessorized with her Kiki Morganite cushion drop earrings and Cartier watch.
William and Kate's busy agenda opened with a visit to Truro, the Duchy’s only city. The royal couple visited Truro Cathedral, meeting civic dignitaries and cathedral representatives. Whilst there, the pair took part in the 'sign-a-slate' project in support of the cathedral's roof appeal.
Their next stop was Zebs Youth Centre, a drop-in centre which aims to inspire young people through creative activities, and offers support for mental well being.
Following this, William and Kate popped in to Healeys Cyder Farm - an award winning Cornish Cyder producer and one of Cornwall's top attractions. After touring the warehouse and production hall, Kate got behind the bar and poured a pint of their signature cyder.
For their fourth engagement of the day, the Duke and Duchess visited Duchy of Cornwall development projects in Nansledan & Tregunnel Hill. The project provides thousands of new homes and jobs for the local community.
For this outdoor event, Kate popped on her beloved Ray-Ban Tortoise Folding Wayfarer Sunglasses.
Their day ended at the beach with a visit to The Wave Project, a group that helps young people combat mental health issues by teaching them to surf.
Tonight, the Duke and Duchess will stay overnight in Cornwall, ahead of tomorrow visit to the Isles of Scilly. The couple will enjoy a romantic night at Restormel Manor, a 500-year-old property owned by the Duchy.
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