Kate & William on the BBC Breakfast Club, Plus Odds & Ends

Hello and welcome to an ‘odds and ends’ post. We begin with the news that Kate and William were on the BBC Breakfast Club this morning.

The couple’s appearance was in conjunction with their support of the new NHS Every Mind Matters mental health campaign. Here is a two-minute clip from the program; presenter Tina Daheley is the woman doing the interview. 

Their appearance was primarily to support the Every Mind Matters campaign launch.  The Mirror reports the Duke and Duchess are the narrators of a new video for the campaign. More from The Mirror’s story: 

With the words “we’re in this together”, the couple herald the scheme which includes new NHS expert tips and advice on looking after mental wellbeing and supporting your family and loved ones during the crisis.

William and Kate say: “All over the country people are staying at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

“It’s not always easy. We can feel frustrated, miss loved ones or get anxious.

“So now, more than ever, Every Mind Matters.

There is new research showing three out of four UK citizens are worried about the virus, and half say it is affecting their mental wellbeing.  You can see the Every Mind Matters video in this Kensington Palace tweet. 

Now, more than ever, Every Mind Matters.

There are things we can all do to help look after our mental wellbeing during this challenging time. Visit https://t.co/2TMbOmDHmQ for more information and create your ‘Mind Plan’ today.#StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/tlncVcnsX8

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 17, 2020

 The campaign website notes, “It’s important to remember it is OK to feel this way and that everyone reacts differently. Remember, this situation is temporary and, for most of us, these difficult feelings will pass. There are some simple things you can do to help you take care of your mental health and wellbeing during times of uncertainty. Doing so will help you think clearly, and make sure you are able to look after yourself and those you care about.” There is a detailed list of ten tips people can follow to help deal with the anxiety and stress associated with the current situation.

During this morning’s appearance, the duo spoke about homeschooling Prince George and Princess Charlotte. More from Hello’s coverage: 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge admitted they haven’t told their eldest children it is the Easter holidays and have continued to homeschool during the break.

Prince William described homeschooling as “fun”, while Kate added it was “challenging” ensuring their children maintain their education while schools are losed during the coronavirus pandemic.

And they spoke about staying in touch with family. More via the BBC’s coverage: 

“It gets a bit hectic, I’m not going to lie, with a two-year-old you have to take the phone away,” Catherine said.

“It’s quite hectic for them all to say the right thing at the right time without pressing the wrong buttons. But it’s great and it’s nice to keep in touch with everybody.”

And from Simon Perry’s People article: 

“It’s been ups and downs, like a lot of families self-isolating. George is much older than Louis is and things, but they are aware, I’m always surprised,” Kate, 38, told the BBC in a rare interview early Friday. “And although you don’t want to scare them and make it too overwhelming, I think it is appropriate to acknowledge it in the simple ways and age-appropriate ways.”

Kate and William also chatted about Captain Tom Moore, an extraordinary World War Two veteran raising money for the NHS.

The Captain decided he wanted to do a fundraiser by walking 100 lengths of his back garden. He hoped to raise £1000 for NHS Charities Together and wanted to complete the 100 lengths by his 100th birthday on April 30th. From the BBC’s story: 

Born in 1920, Tom Moore trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the Army for World War Two, rising to captain. He served in India and Burma. His military experience features prominently in the many messages of support he has received on social media.

The Captain wanted to thank the NHS for the care he received while dealing with a broken hip and cancer treatment. He completed his walk yesterday.

He was saluted by a special honour guard from the 1st Batallion Yorkshire Regiment as he completed his final ten laps. 

The Captain raised more than his original goal. Below, his Just Giving fundraiser page, where the total this morning when I started writing the post was a whopping £18 million+. I did a quick check before hitting ‘publish,’ and it is more than £19 million.

More on the Captain’s reaction after completing his walk via the BBC. 

There was an unmistakable sense of conviction in Tom Moore’s voice as he addressed the camera after completing his walk.

“To all those people who are finding it difficult at the moment,” he said, addressing a British public who have seen life turned upside down by coronavirus. “The sun will shine on you again, and the clouds will go away.”

Earlier this week it was revealed that Prince William donated to the effort. Today he called the Captain a one-man fundraising machine. During this morning’s interview, he said “He’s an absolute legend. It’s incredible, I did see him on the news the other night and I thought, ‘good on him.’ It’s amazing.” Below, a video with this morning’s comments and the Captain as he watched the Duke talking about his incredible fundraiser. 

The Captain’s Twitter feed shows his reaction to seeing the couple praise his efforts. You can listen to audio of the entire 11-minute BBC segment here. 

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Last week the Duke and Duchess chaired a Mental Health Roundtable with representatives from organizations offering mental health care and resources, including Action on Addiction. 

Action on Addiction reports the purpose was “to discuss the impact COVID-19 was having on the mental health of the nation and how charities can work together to support people during the crisis.” Kate also sent the organization, one of her earliest patronages, a letter thanking them for their efforts amid these ‘incredibly challenging circumstances.’ 

As far as what Kate wore, in today’s Breakfast Club segment, she appeared to be wearing the same top seen for the launch of the King’s Cup Regatta last May. 

The piece remains unidentified at this point. Kate paired it with the ‘Parker’ trousers from LK Bennett along with shoes and clutch by Emmy London. 

In the Mental Health Roundtable video, it’s possible Kate is wearing the Really Wild sweater first seen at a December Family Action engagement.

It was the brand’s Long Crewneck Jumper in emerald green, which is no longer available. It is made of 100% lambswool that is spun in Scotland.

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We have results of our poll on your favorite evening gown from last year.

And a visual representation of the data with the white Alexander McQueen one-shoulder design that is very much your favorite (and mine as well!), worn to the 2019 BAFTA Awards. Following somewhat distantly are the green Jenny Packham gown worn in Pakistan and the Alexander McQueen worn to the annual diplomatic reception. 

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Finally today, when sharing what sort of content you would like to see on the site right now, several expressed a desire to see some of my favorites. I haven’t been able to put together a solid list, but here is one that I always talk about when the subject comes up in interviews. It is from July 2011, taken on Prince Edward Island during the North America tour.

The Duchess was watching Prince William doing a helicopter demonstration.

Another view.

She took photos of the event. 

Kate was wearing a trench coat by Ted Baker, the label’s ‘Jinan’ style. She accessorized with a red scarf believed to be by Hugo Boss and her Pied-a-Terre ‘Imperia’ wedges. The coat dates back at least as far as 2008 when Kate was seen wearing it at Cheltenham. You can flip through a couple of images of Kate at that event below.  

Many of us thought Kate was probably wearing the same scarf at Christmas services in 2016.

Kate also wore her diamond and sapphire earrings, her engagement ring, and Diamonds by the Yard bracelet by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany. 

It may seem an odd choice, as opposed to a tiara appearance or knockout dress, but to me, the Duchess seemed utterly relaxed and in her element, almost radiant.  

I hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected/hoped under the circumstances. May you all enjoy a healthy, safe weekend.

LINKAGE: 

• The Every Mind Matters website is here; its coronavirus tips are here; 
• The Action on Addiction site is here; its story about the Mental Health Roundtable is here
• The Daily Mirror piece is here; the BBC’s story is here; the Daily Mail’s coverage is here; the Hello! article is here; Simon Perry’s piece for People is here
• Captain Tom Moore’s Walk for the NHS Just Giving page is here; the Captain’s Twitter feed is here 
• A BBC story about Captain Tom’s fundraiser is here; an Express piece is here; a Daily Mail article is here