The Princess of Wales made a significant visit today to the children’s mental health charity, Anna Freud, to explore a new initiative designed to bolster the expertise of health visitors. This visit underscores her ongoing commitment to enhancing early childhood development through improved mental health support.
In collaboration with Anna Freud, the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, spearheaded by Princess Kate, has introduced a training curriculum aimed at health visitors. This initiative reflects the future queen’s dedication, at 43, to advancing the social and emotional well-being of young children.
Since becoming a patron in 2016, the Princess has been actively involved with the organization, which is renowned for its evidence-based research and training in mental health for children, young people, and families. Her involvement highlights the importance she places on early intervention and support in mental health.
During her visit, Kate engaged with families working alongside Anna Freud and the Institute of Health Visitors to help shape this groundbreaking program. Her interactions with these families are crucial in ensuring the initiative meets the diverse needs of those it aims to support.
Radiating warmth and charm, the Princess arrived in a stylish black and white Emilia Wickstead dress, paired with grey pumps, a brown clutch, and delicate earrings. Her approachable demeanor, marked by cheerful waves and smiles, resonated well with those present, further emphasizing her genuine commitment to the cause.
The Princess appeared in good spirits as she waved and smiled in a black and white Emilia Wickstead dress with grey pumps, a brown clutch and dainty earrings.
Kate previously wore the same outfit to Harvard University during a trip to the US in 2022, while it was similar to another dress she wore to an Anna Freud visit in 2015.
Today, Kate met with the organisation’s chief executive Professor Eamon McCrory at the Anna Freud Centre near King’s Cross to discuss its work with mental health.
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales receives flowers after a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales receives flowers after a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales leaves after a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
The Princess of Wales leaves after a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales receives flowers after a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales leaves after a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales leaves after a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales receives flowers after a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales leaves after a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
Kate meets young children during a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London this morning
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales arrives to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
The Princess of Wales learns about a project to enhance the skills of health visitors today
She also joined discussions with experts, young people and guests to discuss how to create strong relationships within communities to support children’s wellbeing.
During the visit she spoke about the importance of hearing fathers’ voices in the conversation around early years issues, and the need for more support from the ages of two to five.
The new project will be informed by the Royal Foundation Centre’s Shaping Us Framework and will create a workforce development programme.
Its stated aim is ensure more babies and young children develop the social and emotional foundations they need for a happy and healthy life.
Last week, Kate used her first major public speech in two years to call on business leaders to prioritise ‘time and tenderness just as much as productivity and success’.
Kate wore the same outfit to Harvard University during her trip to the US in December 2022
Kate’s outfit was a nod to a previous dress she wore to the Anna Freud Centre in 2015 (above)
She told a gathering of senior executives in the City of London that ‘profitability’ and making a ‘positive impact’ are not ‘incompatible’, at the summit hosted by her Royal Foundation to drive action and investment in the early years development of children.
Delivering the summit’s opening speech, Kate told guests her passion for promoting early years, described in the past as her ‘life’s work’, stemmed from the ‘essential truth’ that ‘the love we feel in our earliest years fundamentally shapes who we become and how we thrive as adults’.
She went on to say: ‘A loving home ultimately teaches us how to love and how to care, but every environment has the potential to shape our hearts.
‘Every one of you interacts with your own environment; a home, a family, a business, a workforce, a community. These are the ecosystems that you yourselves help to weave.’
