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Kate in Erdem for Manchester School Visit & Speech

Kate was greeted by children waving St. George’s flags when for her visit to Willows Primary School in Wythenshawe, Manchester. It is St. George’s Day in England, he is the country’s patron saint.
Kate was visiting the school to help launch a new counseling program, M-PACT. The project is a partnership between two charities Kate is a Patron of, Action on Addiction and Place2Be. She was just named as Patron of Place2Be last week.
 
Comic Relief is also part of the project. Willows Primary has been working with Place2Be since 2010. Here we see a ‘portrait’ of Kate made by students.
 
Rebecca English The Daily Mail/Mail Online Twitter Feed

Rebecca English The Daily Mail/Mail Online Twitter Feed

Kate previously watched the M-PACT program in action when she visited Stockton last October. The Daily Mail offers this on today’s event:

The Willows Primary School on Manchester’s deprived Wythenshawe estate – which is used as a backdrop for the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless – has been held up as a beacon of hope and is now rated by Ofsted as Outstanding.

M-PACT (Moving Parents And Children Together) is designed to provide support for children affected by parental drugs or alcohol abuse.

Kate made another speech today, one with significant import, following is a portion of the text:

But those who are addicted are not the only victims. I have been struck by the profound and deeply damaging impact it has on the children of affected parents.

“Last year, I asked The Royal Foundation, which I share with William and Harry, to see what could be done to help these children.

“In partnership with Comic Relief, our foundation commissioned a piece of research to explore this issue. Today, it gives me an enormous feeling of pride and excitement to launch a programme that will bring this research to life.

Kate did a solid job; you can view the entire speech here at ITN’s site.  She also spoke with parents, administrators, and others involved in today’s launch. Following the events inside the school, Kate and John Bishop helped plant a tree.

It looks like some of the children wanted to help plant the tree. 

Many readers will recall that the school’s playground was destroyed by an arson fire last month; three teenage boys were arrested for the crime. The school is hopeful they can raise enough money for replacement equipment, and they have launched a Go Fund Me effort to help collect funds for this purpose. Click here to learn more or make a donation.

Kate arrived at the Wilmslow Train station wearing the UFO (Unidentified Fashion Object) previously seen at the March wedding of friends in Switzerland, Tuesday Porritt shared this photo on Twitter.

Tuesday Porritt Twitter Feed

Tuesday Porritt Twitter Feed

Kate chose the Sophia dress by Erdem for today’s engagement.

Splash News

A closer look at the Duchess.
 
The Sophia is most definitely not a maternity dress. Described as a “fitted shift,” I can’t imagine many expectant mothers would look at it and say, “Hmmm, that will work when I’m seven months along.” The dress showcased a square, scoop neckline, and elbow-length sleeves.

Net-a-Porter

It certainly worked for the Duchess; the vertical lines created by the print were slimming and drew attention away from Kate’s midsection. From a retail description:
For flawless, ladylike dressing, look no further than fashion darling Erdem. The label’s signature Visconti-blooms work their way across a demure, fitted shift – its square neckline reminiscent of the 50’s classic. Unashamedly feminine; work this dress as an elegant alternative to the LBD.
One interesting note, the front of this piece is 1″ shorter than the back.  In the photo montage above, you can see the back kick vent; the dress also has a hidden zipper.
 
The dress is shown at Matches Fashion for $1514; they have most sizes for sale as of this afternoon. It is still shown as available at Net-a-Porter in most sizes, at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus in all sizes, it is $1880 at all three stores. 

This piece is from Erdem’s Resort 2013 collection, shown below left. On the right, we show the Sophia in a blue print.

Erdem/Lyst

The ‘Visconti’ print is something of a signature for Erdem, above we show it scaled-down and rearranged for a Silk Scarf at Neiman Marcus.
Erdem Visconti Bloom Scarf

Erdem Visconti Bloom Scarf

The Duchess wore her navy Alexander McQueen pumps and carried her Stuart Weitzman navy suede ‘Muse’ clutch from Russell and Bromley.

She also wore her Anoushka pearl drops and Asprey pendant.

You see product shots of those items below. 

Annoushka/Asprey

One of the day’s entertaining moments had to be when Kate was given a book, more from Victoria Murphy of the Mirror:

Victoria Murphy, The Daily Mirror

Victoria Murphy, The Daily Mirror

Kate’s next engagement is tomorrow night when she attends an evening reception at the National Portrait Gallery in her role as Patron of The Art Room. We’ll leave you with one more photo of the Duchess today. 

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hacks

Saturday 28th of June 2014

I almost never leave comments, but i did a few searching and wound up here Kate in Erdem for Manchester School Visit & Speech

EMcD

Friday 26th of April 2013

Why the need to wear clothes which draw the eye away from the mid-section! She is pregnant! I don't know why there are so many comments which praise her on her ability to "hide" the bump? C'mon, really?

Secondly, she always looks fab in her heels... but should she be wearing stilettos at this stage in pregnancy? From personal experience - they were the last thing I would want to wear. I felt off-balance and the extra weight in the front from carrying a baby would make them so uncomfortable! Ballet flats for me at that stage in the game! :)

Melissa

Thursday 25th of April 2013

Not a fan of this dress at all

katie

Thursday 25th of April 2013

Amen sister!

Henry

Wednesday 24th of April 2013

Awful - doesn't do her any favours at all.

Susan

Wednesday 24th of April 2013

The print on this dress isn't something I'd choose for myself, but it looks lovely on her. I'm starting to think we may not see the Duchess in actual maternity wear before she goes on hiatus from public duties!

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