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Princess Kate's Joyful Gallery Visit with School Children

Published 3 days ago on Feb 04, 2025

Princess of Wales Champions Early Childhood Development with National Portrait Gallery Visit.

London, UK – The Princess of Wales made a heartwarming appearance at the National Portrait Gallery in London today, championing the importance of social and emotional development in early childhood. Her visit marked the launch of an interactive trail designed to support these crucial skills in children under five, a project spearheaded by her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in partnership with the gallery. The Princess arrived in a unique way, sharing a bus ride with pupils from All Souls CE Primary School in Marylebone, forging a special connection with one young girl in particular.

The Princess, ever stylish, wore a sophisticated ensemble consisting of a brown blazer over a black high-necked wool jumper and £220 pinstripe Jigsaw trousers. She accessorized with her Sézane Bruna Earrings and her Halcyon Days Salamander Torque Forget-Me-Not & Gold Bangle, a piece believed to be a gift from Prince William. However, the true stars of the day were the children, and the Princess dedicated her attention to engaging with them, fostering a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.

The bus journey to the gallery proved to be a memorable experience for the children, especially five-year-old Grace, who sat beside the Princess and chatted animatedly throughout the ride. Alix Ascough, executive headteacher at All Souls, shared that Grace, unaware of the royal status of her companion, simply referred to her as "Catherine." Ascough described the children's excitement about the "posh coach" and the Princess's warm interaction with them, noting how she helped with jumpers and created a comfortable environment. The headteacher emphasized the magical nature of the day, an experience the children would likely never forget, and praised the Princess's genuine interest in their artwork and behavior.

Emerging from the bus hand-in-hand with Grace, the Princess led the children into the gallery, where they were greeted by the impressive Bobeam Tree, a life-sized model symbolizing growth and storytelling. Anna Husband, the NPG's Head of Learning, guided the children through the interactive trail, explaining how it would help the tree flourish. The trail led the children through various activities, including a Mood Magnifying Mirror Box, where they explored facial expressions and emotions, imitating poses from portraits like that of actress Anna Neagle. The Princess actively participated, crouching down to interact with the children, making faces, and engaging in playful exchanges.

The children also had the opportunity to create self-portraits, an exercise designed to encourage self-reflection and storytelling. The Princess joined them, offering assistance and engaging in conversations about their artwork. One little girl even enjoyed a brief moment sitting on the Princess's lap. The culmination of the activity involved "feeding" their finished portraits to the Bobeam Tree, a process that elicited delighted screams and expressions of wonder from the children.

Following the activities with the children, the Princess met with Victoria Siddall, the NPG's new director, and Christian Guy, Executive Director of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. They discussed the potential of portraiture in fostering empathy and understanding in young children. The Princess emphasized the importance of addressing social and emotional skills, particularly in relation to mental health, highlighting the need to normalize conversations about complex emotions like anger, fear, and jealousy. She expressed her excitement about using portraiture in innovative ways to make these crucial lessons accessible to children beyond the classroom.

Liz Smith, director of learning and engagement at the NPG, observed the Princess's genuine engagement with the children, noting how she seamlessly integrated into the group, becoming like one of the mums on a school trip. Smith highlighted the Princess's enthusiasm for witnessing the potential of curiosity, creativity, empathy, and kindness come to life through the children's interactions.

This visit coincided with the launch of the Shaping Us Framework, an initiative by the Princess's Centre for Early Childhood in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery. The framework aims to promote a physically and mentally healthier society by focusing on self-awareness and emotional understanding. The Bobeam Tree Trail, a central component of the initiative, will be available to the public from February 4 to March 16, free of charge. Other galleries and museums across the UK will also be participating in the initiative.

This engagement marks a continuation of the Princess's gradual return to public duties following her health challenges last year. Sources have indicated that her schedule will be paced, prioritizing her recovery and family alongside her commitment to her charitable work. This visit underscores her dedication to early childhood development and the work of her Centre.

The visit comes shortly after Kensington Palace released a photograph of the Princess, taken by Prince Louis, ahead of World Cancer Day. The image, accompanied by a personal message from the Princess, highlights the importance of nurturing aspects of life beyond illness. This glimpse into the royal family's life, captured through the lens of young Prince Louis, further emphasizes the Princess's focus on family and her passion for photography. It also follows recent reports that Kensington Palace will be scaling back the release of details about the Princess's wardrobe, emphasizing that her public work is about the issues she champions, not what she wears.

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