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The Duchess Wears Gucci for Early Years Q&A Video

Hello-Hello, I am back with a brief follow-up to the post from Friday that covered the results of landmark research into the Early Years (pregnancy through age five) in the UK. Over the weekend, two more videos about the results were released, and Friday’s post was already so long it makes more sense to put the new information in a separate post. 

We’ll start with a new four-minute video with the Duchess. 

Last week the Kensington Palace Instagram page solicited questions about the Early Years project. 

In the new video, the Duchess answers some of the questions. 

 More from this People story

“I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who sent in their questions. There are a huge number here with loads of wonderful emojis attached to them,” the mother of three said in a video posted on Instagram.

And from this Hello story

When asked during the session what sparked her interest in the Early Years, the Duchess replied: “I actually get asked this question a lot. I think people assume because I am a parent, that’s why I’ve taken an interest in the Early Years.

“I think this really is bigger than that. This isn’t about – just about – happy healthy children, this is about the society I hope we could and can become. Right from the early days, meeting lots of people who are suffering with addiction or poor mental health, and hearing time and time again that their troubles now in adulthood stem right back from early childhood experience.”

Kate chuckled when talking about a question that asked, “How do you manage toddler tantrums in your household especially with multiple children?” 

The Duchess said, “Yes, that’s a hard one. I’d also like to ask the experts myself.”  More from The Daily Mail

On the subject of temper-tantrums, deputy head of the Early Years programme at the Anna Freud Centre, Alice Haynes, intervened using her own experience with her two-year-old son after the duchess joked she wanted advice for that question herself.

She said: ‘When my son has a temper-tantrum, I try to put into words how I think he might be feeling in a slow and calm and gentle way.’

And from this Hello story

The royal even opened up about her own childhood after being asked: “What did you like most in your childhood?”

“That’s a very good question,” started Kate. “I loved spending time outside and that has stuck with me for my whole life.”

This weekend’s second item was the fifth video in a series covering 5 Big Insights from the Early Years research. The first four insights: 

  • Insight #1: People overwhelmingly believe that a child’s future is not pre-determined at birth. However, most of us don’t understand the specific importance of the early years. 
  • Insight #2: 90% of people see parental mental health and wellbeing as being critical to a child’s development.
  • Insight #3: Feeling judged by others can make a bad situation worse. 70% of parents feel judged by others & among these parents, nearly half feel this negatively impacts their mental health. 
  • Insight #4: People have been separated from family and friends during the pandemic and at the same time parental loneliness has dramatically increased. Disturbingly, people are also less willing to seek help for how they’re feeling. 

Here is Insight #5: During the COVID-19 pandemic, support from local communities has substantially increased for many – but not for all

Also this weekend, a column in The Telegraph featuring one of the doctors working on the Early Years project, associate professor of public health at University College London who worked on the research project along with his twin brother, who is a virologist. In the piece, he talks about why he wanted to be part of the project and his experiences working with the Duchess. 

What drew us both to her cause is the very different approach it has taken from other similar projects we have been involved with. This is not a flash-in-the-pan campaign, with a well-known name as the figurehead, peripherally involved. Nor is it one person’s whimsical idea that it would be ‘nice to do something for children’.

As was absolutely clear at that very first meeting, the Duchess has shaped this project. She is absolutely across the research and the data on early years. It would be easy for her to sit back and hand it to the experts in the room that day, with all their PhDs. But, as we saw, she has worked hard to become an expert herself. That interest in early years will outlast politicians and even scientists.

We return to The Telegraph column

The mental health of parents with early years children is another issue the survey’s findings highlight. Last week, the Duchess began a conversation to try to nudge our priorities as a country around these issues. There are many very good organisations working in the early years space, but not many can match the Royal Foundation’s reach and scope. Especially since it has done that rare thing: it has asked questions rather than, as is so often the case in this area, telling parents what to do. Such an approach allows you to build a strong base for a long-lasting commitment.

There is nothing insubstantial about this work.

Now for our look at what Kate wore in the new videos, starting with the piece answering questions about the project. 

The Duchess brought back a much-discussed piece, a blouse first worn for a March 2019 visit to a children’s center.

It is the Gucci Silk Crepe Pussy Bow Blouse ($1300). Made of 100% silk satin georgette in a color called ‘pale violet orchid,’ the blouse featured a loose silhouette, self-covered buttons, and distinctive bow. 

The chatter about the blouse was prompted by Kate’s decision to wear it ‘backward,’ with the buttons going down the front instead of the way it was modeled in online images. 

In the new video, the Duchess also wore her “Alia” style (£62) earrings by Welsh brand Spells of Love, shown below as worn for a previous engagement.

In the Insight #5 video, the Duchess wore her Zara Waffle Knit Blazer.

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Friday’s post also included Black Friday shopping discounts. Many of those offers are still in effect. Below, additional deals offered for Cyber Monday.  

LINKAGE

  • The Royal Foundation’s microsite about the 5 Big Insights is here; the full research report may be read here; a video of Kate’s keynote address to a forum on the research results is here.
  • The Daily Mail’s story about the Q&A video is here; The Mirror’s piece is here; a Hello article is here; People’s story is here
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Valerie

Thursday 3rd of December 2020

Hi. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. I ordered today the 2021 Kate calendar. I get one every year. Last year 2. Gave one to a friend. This site is helping me thru this pandemic. Love it. Take care.

Margaret

Wednesday 2nd of December 2020

I'm not a fan of the blouse, and the cuffs look obviously backwards and awkward. However, her makeup and coloring of the blouse light up her face, and she truly looks ravishing. I love her eyebrows and hair.

ElizaMo

Tuesday 1st of December 2020

The Gucci blouse is just lovely on Kate and ideal for video work with its eye-catching bow. The soft satin folds and rich colour of the blouse keep her suitably regal, while still relaxed enough for an informal presentation. I really admire how natural but professional her five appearances have been.

Nice to see the slightly formal edge of the Zara blazer for her last and very serious Insight. She’s so highly engaged with her subject the passion really catches the viewer's attention.

Thanks for all the sales tips, just off to work through a few of them now!

Marie D.

Tuesday 1st of December 2020

I'm so pleased by the comments from those of you who love that color. I wear it all the time. I can't help myself. I now have at least 7 items in my closet in some shade of "purple." It looks great with black pants and on most brunettes.

hrhdhd

Tuesday 1st of December 2020

Probably 30% of my closet is clothing in various shades of purple. In fact, the walls in there are purple, too (you can't really see it, but the little patches that aren't behind clothes make me happy). I am surprised that Kate doesn't wear it more often. It's the color of royalty, after all!

LadyLeah

Tuesday 1st of December 2020

And especially nice with green eyes!

It’s a gorgeous shade of purple

Dixie Lee

Tuesday 1st of December 2020

She looks great, but what really strikes me is the comment by the 'expert' on her having done the work and this being a real sustained project rather than just a "well done you" affirmation. Finally having a generation of royals with a real university level education (pretty sure they are the first couple to have that) is a terrific step forward. Catherine and William are both so thoughtful and competent and can be a real asset to their country for years to come, especially if they are able to bring up their children as well!

LovesBlue

Tuesday 1st of December 2020

She does look great and I love the colour. Her hair....sigh:). She presents the information so well and while she is famous, she keeps to the issues and not on herself and her personal experiences. I liked how she mixed in experts too to answer questions and highlight their expertise in their chosen field. She has worked really hard at this and many families don't come from a foundation where the answers to these questions are obvious. It takes action to make change and getting a better foundation for those without the supports I was lucky enough to have during my growing up years is an amazing effort on Kate's and many other's part. She has already been helping children's charities for years and will be doing so for many years to come. I like how her outfits in some of the 5 question videos were re-wears from events focusing on children's charities.

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