The Princess of Wales elegantly returned to the Anna Freud centre in London this week, but her visit contained a thoughtful tribute to her long-standing patronage. With her signature poise, Kate chose an outfit that cleverly echoed the one she wore nearly a decade ago, subtly highlighting her enduring commitment to the children's mental health charity.
A Decade of Dedication in a Dress
For her latest engagement, the future queen selected a tailored blue check dress by New Zealand designer Emilia Wickstead. The choice bore a striking resemblance to the black and white Ralph Lauren shirt-dress she wore during her first visit to the centre in September 2015. While the colour palette differed, the two ensembles shared distinct common features: a sharp collar, cinched waist, long sleeves, and a knee-length cut.
This sartorial callback was far from coincidental. By evoking the memory of her initial visit, the 43-year-old royal powerfully, yet quietly, emphasised the length of her involvement with the organisation. Kate has been patron of the Anna Freud centre since 2016, an institution dedicated to evidence-based research and training on mental health for children, young people, and their families.
Launching a Landmark Initiative for Early Years
The Princess's visit was focused on substance as much as style. She was there to mark a significant new collaboration. Her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has partnered with Anna Freud to create a pioneering training curriculum for health visitors.
This new scheme is designed to bolster the work of health visitors, specifically in supporting the early social and emotional development of children. Kate began her day by meeting families who are helping to shape this initiative through their work with Anna Freud and the Institute of Health Visitors.
She also met with the organisation's chief executive, Professor Eamon McCrory, to discuss its ongoing mental health work. Her passion for the early years was further highlighted during a speech at a summit hosted by her Royal Foundation in the City of London, where she addressed business leaders on investing in early childhood development.
A Broader Mission: Connecting in a Digital World
The Princess's work extends beyond this single partnership. Earlier this week, her Centre for Early Childhood announced a major new research project. A £100,000 study will investigate how the use of digital devices impacts young children.
The research aims to tackle 'technoference'—the disruption of parent-child interactions caused by digital devices—and to help families forge stronger connections in the modern world. This initiative follows a heartfelt essay Kate penned last month, in which she expressed concern about raising a generation that is more digitally 'connected' yet potentially more isolated and lonely.
The mother-of-three, who shares Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, with the Prince of Wales, urged parents to protect sacred spaces for genuine connection, such as family dinners and engaged listening. Her consistent advocacy, now spanning almost ten years, continues to place the wellbeing of the youngest members of society at the forefront.
