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Kate Reveals William Found Parenthood Difficult Initially During Family Action Engagement!

The Duchess of Cambridge was scheduled to kick off a busy autumn programme on 4 September with a visit to Hornsey Road Children's Centre. Photographers and reporters assembled, waiting to snap photos of the Duchess arriving; instead Kensington Palace announced the Duke and Duchess were expecting their third child. Kate had to cancel because she was so unwell, however, she took a rain check and paid a visit to the centre this afternoon.


Hornsey Road Children's Centre offers a welcoming environment for expectant and new mothers, and an outlet for children to play. It provides vital care and mental health support to parents, as well as offering antenatal and postnatal services, a nursery, play groups, and family support services.


The Duchess was greeted upon arrival.


There was a firm focus today on perinatal health services, delivered at the centre by the Queen's patronage, Family Action. It's an area of particular interest to Kate and one she is keen to learn more about during recent engagements. Kensington Palace said "The Duchess's visit to Hornsey Road comes as Her Royal Highness works to understand the challenges and issues surrounding maternal mental health." Perinatal mental health problems can occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child, and can affect up to 20 per cent of women. If left untreated, it can have significant and long-lasting effects on the woman and her family.


A video from Victoria Murphy.


Founded in 1869 as the Charity Organisation Society (later the Family Welfare Association), Family Action is one of the biggest national providers of early intervention services for families and children, transforming lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support. The charity works with over 45,000 families through over 130 community-based services, and aims to strengthen families and communities.


The Queen agreed to become Royal Patron of the charity in 1953, upon the death of Queen Mary. If I were a betting woman, I would wager it's quite likely this is a patronage we'll see Kate taking over in the not too distant future. Not only has it strong links going back decades with the Royal family, but it's aims and ethos are very much in Kate's wheelhouse.


Below, the Queen and Princess Margaret arriving for a charity performance of Gigi in 1959 in aid of the organisation.

Embed from Getty Images

There is an excellent timeline of events charting the history of the organisation here. There's also a YouTube video available here, with experts and speakers chronicling the issues which brought about the organisation and its role today.


Most recently the organisation was chosen to disburse funds raised in an appeal for vicitms of the Grenfell Fire:

'Family Action is very honoured to have been chosen by Haley Yearwood to disburse the funds raised through her incredible crowdfunding appeal. We have established a new grants scheme in order to disburse £750,000 of the money generously donated by over 36,000 donors through Haley’s appeal. The rest of the money raised will fund a long term responsive service providing practical and emotional support to the Grenfell community.'

Kate toured the facilities which support local parents and young children, and had the opportunity to learn more about Family Action's perinatal mental health services which operate nationwide.


Kate described children's activities as "the best fun".


The Duchess also heard some of the personal experiences of parents who have benefited from the charity's support.


Whilst meeting single dad Billy, Kate revealed William initially found fatherhood difficult. Richard Palmer reports:

'Kate met father Billy, 39, during a visit to a care centre for expectant and new parents, after her own pregnancy led to a previous trip being delayed. Billy is raising his seven-month-old daughter Violet alone after taking custody from her mother and spoke about his experiences at Hornsey Road Children's Centre in north London.
The Duchess, who is currently four months pregnant with her third child, described how William had felt he did not know what exactly to do when he first became a father. Speaking after meeting Kate, Billy said: "She was saying William was sort of similar and I just wanted to let her know how Family Action have been there for me and I think they need more support." Billy said the mother of his daughter showed up on his doorstep out of the blue, saying she was pregnant and had already had two children taken away so could not care for a third. He said: "I was under mental health myself, I was suffering from severe depression and I thought I'm not going to let my daughter go into care, I'm going to step up and do this - I managed to turn myself around. "I've been doing it from day one at the hospital, fed her her first bottle."
Volunteer worker Maggie Sandy, said about Kate: “We just felt that she genuinely was interested. “And it’s so good because it really raises the profile of perinatal mental health. We always say that this goes across social class, we reach all sorts of parents and it is actually to do with being a parent and she can relate to that.” When asked about Kate’s comments about William, she added about dads: “We do offer support to dads. “I think it’s so important because dad’s sometimes get left out in the mix after the birth of a baby and they sometimes get sidelined.'

One little boy was feeling a tad shy :)


Kate joined a round-table discussion with experts and practitioners in maternal mental health.


Kate was given a beautiful posy of flowers.


Kate revealed Charlotte's favourite colour is pink. More from People:

'Kate, who is expecting her third child in April, shared a touching moment with 6-year-old Nevaeh Richardson-Natiko, who presented the royal with a bouquet of flowers.’
“She asked me what my favorite color is,” Nevaeh, who wore a pink party dress, told reporters after her chat with Princess Kate. “I said it was pink and she said that’s Charlotte’s favorite color too,” Nevaeh added.'

The Duchess brought back her £600 Goat Redgrave Coat today. Kate first wore the piece in 2013 when she was expecting Prince George for a visit to Child Bereavement UK. Kate sported a selection of gorgeous pieces during her first two pregnancies, it's great to see a couple of my personal favourites back again. The Redgrave remains a very stylish coat and last week we saw the return of Kate's DVF Zarita gown.


The nude A lined shaped coat features side seam diagonal welt pockets. It's described as "classic and sophisticated". It's available on the GOAT website in sizes 6-16.

GOAT

The coat is available in a plethora of colours including black, cream, plum, marine blue and persian green at GOAT and Fatfetch. The green version is also available on The Outnet discounted to £295.

GOAT

It very much looks like Kate teamed the coat with her Topshop Collar Contrast Dress once again. Below, Kate wearing it during the 2013 Child Bereavement UK engagement.


Kate didn't take her coat off today, but we can see the distinctive collar quite clearly.


Kate wore her Russell & Bromley Half N Half black suede boots. The £455 pair are described as "These beautiful block heeled boots from our collaboration with Stuart Weitzman offer a knee-high alternative to the iconic 50-50. In luxurious black suede with a low block heel these boots are detailed with trademark stretch panel at the back for a clean fit and elongated silhouette." For those in the U.S., the very similar Stuart Weitzman 50-50 style (which Kate's are described as an "alternative" for) are available here.


Kate carried her black suede Mulberry Clutch.


And accessorised with her Annoushka pearls and Kiki McDonough hoops.



At this point, there's nothing announced for Kate's Calendar. I expect that to change very soon. Thank you for reading as always :)