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The Princess in Sunny Separates for Mental Health Week Engagement

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The Princess in Sunny Separates for Mental Health Week Engagement

The Princess of Wales traveled to Bath today for an engagement marking Mental Health Awareness Week.

The Princess was in Bath, about 90 minutes west of London, to visit the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust—more about the organization from the Trust’s website. 

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust puts world class athletes shoulder to shoulder with young people. Equipping them with a winning mindset and shaping their futures – it’s a teammate like no other. Whether that’s building relationship skills, improving self-esteem or learning to stay focused, our sporting champions help the next generation move forward with confidence.

A quick video from Rebecca English as the Princess arrived. 

Below, the Princess and Dame Kelly.

More from Somerset Live’s coverage. 

Kate met young people who are supported by the charity, which was set up by the double Olympic gold medallist…..in 2008.

Dame Kelly founded the national youth development organisation with the belief that every young person needs a champion. The charity pairs struggling youngsters, who may suffer with confidence or other issues, with world-class athletes.

The Princess and Dame Kelly have known each other for years. Below, you see rower Anna Watkins (L), Dame Kelly (2nd L), the Duchess of Cambridge, and Katherine Grainger (R) during the London 2012 Women’s Hockey bronze medal match between New Zealand and Great Britain. Most recently, the Princess may have seen Dame Kelly last week at the Coronation; I believe she was a guest.

Today the Princess met students from St. Katherine’s School in Bristol who are participating in a program called “On Track To Achieve,” delivered by the students’ athlete mentor, Paralympic gold medallist Liz Johnson.

The program is aimed at young people ages 11-19, helping those with social, emotional, or mental health challenges or children who would benefit from the support of a positive role model to achieve their potential.

The Princess heard from students about problems they face today, and the group discussed possible solutions for coping with challenges they encounter in day-to-day living.

More from this piece in the Daily Telegraph. 

‌“She was lovely,” said Dame Kelly on meeting the Princess.

‌”She said: ‘Ask me questions as well’. I asked her, I said you’ve got three children and do you see different traits in them?

‌”She said: ‘Oh yes,’ and she said that’s the thing. It’s like learning how to handle the different traits and different needs and abilities even with three young children shows her the need to do it with masses of children.”

We return to The Telegraph’s story. 

Away from the cameras, the Princess also answered questions from the girls about her life, telling them she had never thought about joining the Royal family until she fell in love with her husband, according to one person there.

Dame Kelly said: “They were just asking her about being a Royal. Was it something that she wanted to do? And she said she had to learn. It’s a struggle to know that you can be accepted and fit in and you are still learning every day.

‌“Doing public speaking isn’t a natural thing for lots of people is it? And she was saying she is still working that out but has to project. So you know again, she humanised everything. Not everyone is perfect.”

At today’s visit, the Princess was joined by documentary maker and mental health advocate, Zara McDermott, one of the Shaping Us campaign champions. Below, Ms. McDermott (L), Dame Kelly (C), and the Princess. 

The Shaping Us campaign “aims to raise public awareness of the crucial importance of the first five years of a child’s life, during which time our brains develop faster than any other time of our lives. Our experiences, relationships, and surroundings at that very young age, lay the foundations for the rest of our lives which is why building a supportive nurturing world around children and their carers is so important,” per a story on the monarchy’s site. 

After the indoor conversations, everyone headed outside for some fun playing noughts and crosses, known in the US as tic-tac-toe.

More from this Metro story. 

Kate, who is known for her competitive streak, joined a team of pupils being supported by Dame Kelly’s trust at its base in Bath, with the former sports star on the other team.

In bright summer sunshine on Tuesday, the opposing groups had to run forwards in turn and throw a bean-bag on to a grid on the ground.

Kate did her best but Dame Kelly’s team won twice.

After the first victory, the track and field star held her arms aloft and admitted she is ‘slightly competitive’.

The princess joked: ‘You would never have guessed.’

A group photo to memorialize today’s visit. 

And a wave goodbye from the Princess. 

A video of the Princess and staff as they headed for their train back to London.

Now for our look at what Kate wore for today’s engagement.

She sported a new blazer by LK Bennett, the British retailer’s Mya Yellow Tailored Jacket, with thanks to Found by Bojana for another great ID.

The single-breasted design is made in Portugal in a blend of polyester and viscose/rayon. The blazer features curved peak lapels, a single horn-effect button at the front with one at each cuff, and front welt pockets. It’s possible the Princess chose this deep marigold color because it is the primary color used for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust.   

Beneath the jacket, it looks like the Princess wore her H&M Off-The-Shoulder Rib Knit Top in White ‘Off The Shoulder Rib Knit Top’ first noted when visiting the Isles of Scilly in September 2016 (center photo below). The top is a finely ribbed piece made in a blend of rayon/nylon/spandex. We saw the piece again during the October 2016 Canada tour (below left), and the Duchess of Cambridge wore it when receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in June 2021 (below right).

I believe the Princess *may* have been wearing her Alexander McQueen Trousers, but it’s tough to tell without seeing the waistband and possible pockets. 

The Princess brought back her Veja Esplar Sneakers ($150).

The shoe is in stock in a mix of sizes at Net-a-Porter ($150) and Neiman Marcus ($150). 

And we saw the return of the Emily Mortimer Hera White Gold and Diamond Earrings (£825, about $1000 at today’s exchange rates).

The Duchess has another engagement Thursday in support of Mental Health Awareness Week when she will visit the Anna Freud Centre. The annual UK awareness week runs from May 15 – May 21. This year’s theme for MHAW is anxiety.

More from the Mental Health Foundation site. 

We all feel anxious from time to time. Anxiety is a natural response to the uncertain world around us. For example, in the current cost-of-living crisis, more than a third of adults feel anxious about their financial situation. But it’s important that we recognise and respond when we feel anxious, so that our anxiety doesn’t become overwhelming.

In the USA, May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  

Kensington Palace posted a brief video about today’s engagement. 

 VIDEOS: 

The Royal Family Channel has about 1:45 in coverage of today’s engagement. 

 LINKAGE:

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katefanatic

Friday 19th of May 2023

Not everyone can pull of this particular shade of orange/yellow, but Kate has the coloring to do so. I think the outfit was fantastic. I don't understand the complaints about the sneakers, as she played several games and did physical activity, which necessitated athletic footwear as opposed to flats or sandals. I also don't get the complaints about the earrings. I myself would probably have gone with yellow gold-toned jewelry but I don't think there is anything wrong with the white gold and at least they were real jewelry. I thought this was a great engagement for the princess.

Ashly

Wednesday 17th of May 2023

If anyone can pull off yellow…. It’s her! I think it’s a great outfit. Another blazer! Does she have a blazer closet?

Laura

Wednesday 17th of May 2023

A nice summery outfit- crisp white and yellow! This is a very nice alternative to Kate’s casual uniform of skinny jeans or culottes and a blazer.

These engagements where she needs to do sporty activities WHILE looking professional are so difficult. How do you strike the right sartorial balance? I think Kate does a good job of it.

Emma

Wednesday 17th of May 2023

Wow! She looks beautiful! I think it's safe to say that there isn't a color that she doesn't look outstanding in! On almost anyone else this color would have looked cheap....

Carolyn

Wednesday 17th of May 2023

I like this outfit, the colour looks great on her and it's appropriate for the event. Think she could have gone with flats or loafers instead of sneakers though.

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