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The Duchess Spends Halloween with Tennis' Future Stars!

What does the Duchess of Cambridge get up to on Halloween? Kate spent part of the morning with a group of children attired in tennis gear (no, they weren't trick-or-treating dressed up as Andy Murray or the Williams sisters) for a decidedly non-spooky engagement at the Lawn Tennis Association.


The outing marks Duchess Kate's first solo engagement since the pregnancy announcement - a clear signal she is feeling much better and allowing for the return of appearances scheduled in advance. We last saw the Duchess two weeks ago when she joined William and Harry to attend the graduation of more than 150 Coach Core apprentices. With George on half-term break, it's believed the Cambridges spent last week ensconced in their country home Anmer Hall or with the Middletons in Bucklebury before returning to London over the weekend to resume duties.


It is the first time Kate has been accompanied by her new private secretary Catherine Quinn. Ms Quinn took over from Rebecca Deacon earlier this month, bringing a wealth of experience to the role.


An arrival video from Simon Perry.


Avid tennis fan and player Kate took over the patronage of the Lawn Tennis Association from the Queen last December. The organisation's mission is to get more people playing tennis more often, and part of its role is to govern tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man by acting as guardians to promote and safeguard the integrity of the sport.


Upon arrival, the Duchess received a briefing from key representatives of the LTA on its latest grass roots activities and high-performance objectives.


Then, it was time for something fun as Kate took part in a Tennis for Kids session.


The LTA-run programme introduces and teaches young children aged five to eight years old how to play and enjoy tennis.


High-Five.


A look at the Duchess in action.


The successful progamme has seen 20,000 children participating this year alone. With excellent feedback from parents and plans for expansion, I wouldn't be at all surprised if our future Wimbledon champions are honing their skills early whilst having plenty of fun. A nice element of the activity saw children receive a free tennis racket at the end to encourage them to continue playing.


The Duchess met some of the UK's top junior talents as well as members of the training team including coaches, nutritionists and physiotherapists who discussed what it takes to be a top junior player.


Kate asked for tips on coaching George.

Simon Perry Twitter

The Duchess with tennis star Johanna Konta. Speaking about Kate, Ms Konta said: “It was good and fun. She’s lovely, It was great to see her passion for tennis and that she was here to learn about these great programs being run by the LTA. Every little girl and almost every boy wants to meet a princess and it got them very excited.”


Kate chatting with Paralympic medallist and Wimbledon Wheelchair Doubles Champion Alfie Hewett.


Finally, the Duchess met some of the Coach Core apprentices who led a tennis training session. The Coach Core scheme was designed by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to take young people aged 16-24 with limited opportunities and train them to be sports coaches and positive role models and mentors in their communities. Coach Core has been working with the LTA over the last 18 months to identify employer partners and additional training opportunities for apprentices around the UK. In turn this helps the LTA target new workforce and participants in diverse communities around the UK.


As mentioned earlier in the post, Kate's last engagement with William and Harry celebrated the graduation of Coach Core participants, and it's important to note the scheme's links across areas of sport and with organisations the royal trio are involved in.


The Duchess received flowers and posed for a photo before leaving.


Kate selected a casual and sporty look for the day.


Kate's new black jacket is by British tennis clothing brand PlayBrave.


The garment features the distinctive logo on the sleeve.


The £129 Clarice Track Jacket is a premium quality track jacket cut to allow layering and freedom of movement.

PlayBrave

More on the background of the brand:

'PlayBrave was first inspired by the icy chill of the Lake District in the peak of winter. Despite the conditions, our decision to wear considered, clever layers separated us from the elements, leaving us to enjoy the scenery freely, in warmth and comfort.
But it was a different story altogether back at our tennis club; the head coach could hardly swing his racket thanks to the bulky items he was wearing to stay warm and dry. We realised then that the world of sport was missing something: all-weather sports gear, designed to be layered without compromising your game.
Today, our business partners include The Queen’s Club, St. George’s Hill, Stoke Park and The Hurlingham Club  – some of the finest clubs in the world. Our garments can be worn for various sports and we’re working hard to offer something a little bit special - a cut above the global sportswear brands - for people who don’t want to wear the ‘mass market uniform’, and who relate to our philosophy. PlayBrave is a privately owned British company.'

Kate brought back the Monreal London Side Panel Track Pants she wore in Edinburgh for a 'Tennis on the Road' event with Judy Murray. Kate teamed them with a white Nike Baseline Top and Asics Gel Solution Trainers.


The slim-fit Tuxedo pants have inbuilt shorts for lift, support and to add layer of opacity. Concealed pockets and side panels are flattering and leg-lengthening, while the elasticated waistband and invisible ankle zips add comfort. They’re made from high-flex luxury performance jersey and feature monochrome panels with a contrast neon yellow waistband. Middleton Maven notes they remain available on the Monreal London website for $345.

Monreal London

Laura quickly identified Kate's new trainers as the Nike Women's Air Vapormax Flyknit Running Shoes.


The $190 trainers are described as: "With a reinvented cushioning system, the Nike Air VaporMax Flyknit Women's Running Shoe delivers a lightweight, bouncy ride for a gravity-defying sensation underfoot and Flyknit fabric for a snug, flawless fit." They are available in several colours at Nike, Finish Line, Nordstrom and Six 02.

Nike

Kate accessorised with her Kiki McDonough Grace earrings.

Kiki McDonough

And wore a poppy.


Kate was very much in her element today and appeared to have a wonderful time. She adores tennis and clearly enjoyed getting stuck in and playing with the children. It was great to see how much she has improved over the past couple of weeks - there's a considerable difference in photos from today to those taken two weeks ago at the Coach Core graduation. Hopefully Kate's pregnancy will be smooth sailing from here on in. We also saw Kate's private secretary Catherine Quinn make a stylish debut; she's undoubtedly going to prove an invaluable addition at KP. What do you think of Kate's sporty look? There's something rather eye-catching about those Nike trainers...


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We also have news of upcoming engagements for the Duchess. Next Tuesday, 7 November, Kate, will attend the 2017 Gala Dinner for the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (AFNCCF), held in the Orangery at Kensington Palace. During the gala, the Duchess, who is patron, will attend a reception to hear more about this project and the work of the AFNCCF from those who are closely involved in the charity. Kate will also meet with some of the charity’s service users, including families who have benefitted from the work of the organisation. I imagine this will be quite a glamorous event calling for either a cocktail dress or a gown.

The following day, 8 November, the Duchess will attend the Place2Be School Leaders Forum on Mental Health. The Duchess will open the conference and join delegates at the forum as they consider the key issues and latest thinking on the role that schools can play in tackling mental health problems early in life. The Duchess has attended each of the two previous conferences hosted by Place2Be. Below, a look at Kate's Calendar for November, including Remembrance events.


In Heads Together news, the Mail on Sunday reported William, Kate and Harry's Royal Foundation has applied to trademark the hashtag #stopspeaksupport. It is understood the social media slogan will be used to encourage people to seek help with mental health problems.

Last but certainly not least, William attended the Pride of Britain awards last night, celebrating Britain's unsung heroes. He presented two special recognition awards - to the Grenfell Community and to Manchester Medics. He was joined on stage by young people who were injured in the Manchester Arena attack. He said: "The courage and spirit Manchester showed is a huge example to us all". The full awards will be broadcast on ITV on 7 November. If you can, I encourage you to watch. It's an amazing event filled with inspirational stories of courage. A memorable moment from the night came before the show when William met adorable five-year-old Suzie Cash who won a Pride of Britain award for calling 999 when her mother collapsed. I promise this video will make your day :)


A very Happy Halloween to you all :)