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The Duchess of Cambridge joined a group of schoolchildren for a mural painting session in Portsmouth
She was careful not to splash her £810 cream wool Max Mara Studio Gilles coat during the painting session
The Duchess was joined by Sir Ben Ainslie who, with Kate, is joint patron of the 1851 Trust
Looked delighted when handed a personalised t-shirt for Prince George during a walkabout
It aims to encourage more young people into sailing and bring the America's Cup back to Britain

Published: 07:41 EST, 12 February 2015 | Updated: 11:49 EST, 12 February 2015

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She showed off her musical skills courtesy of a ukulele session at a London school on Tuesday and today, the Duchess of Cambridge was back on creative form as she turned her hand to painting.

Kate, who showed off a noticeably larger baby bump beneath her cream coat, was visiting the headquarters of Ben Ainslie Racing in Portsmouth as part of her work with the 1851 Trust, which encourages young people to get involved in sailing.

The Trust's new building is currently under construction and includes a mural wall painted by children drawn from six local schools - and now the Duchess of Cambridge to boot.

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Careful! A noticeably larger baby bump could be seen under the Duchess of Cambridge's Max Mara coat as she arrived in Portsmouth

Animated: Kate chatted happily to well-wishers as she made her way towards the headquarters of Ben Ainslie Racing and the 1851 Trust

Journey: Her visit to Portsmouth also took her to Gunwharf Quays and the Spinnaker Tower for a closer look at Ainslie's America's Cup boats

Are these for me? The Duchess looked delighted when she was handed a bouquet of flowers outside Ben Ainslie Racing HQ

Make like Kate in a cosy cream coat by MaxMara

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Here at Fashion Finder HQ, nobody gets us frantically searching for clothes quite like the Duchess of Cambridge. But we didn’t have to look for long this time!

Today's visit to Portsmouth is her first official engagement since the Middleton family trip to Mustique, and she looks the picture of health wearing a coat by one of her favorite brands, MaxMara. We expected her to go all nautical on us, but instead she went neutral!

This belted cream coat was the perfect color to show off her holiday glow and shape to flatter her baby bump. And when teamed with court heels and a matching clutch bag, this outfit is classic Catherine.

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Ever fastidious, the Duchess was careful not to get her £810 Max Mara Studio coat splashed during the painting session but smiled broadly as she chatted to a group of youngsters as she left her mark on the wall.

The Duchess, who was wearing a £99 polka dot dress by Somerset by Alice Temperley and a pair of £395 Jimmy Choo pumps, was also introduced to local artists, James Waterfield and My Dog Sighs.

The pair have been charged with overseeing the mural, which depicts the skyline from Portsmouth to Ryde and includes views of the Isle of Wight and the Solent.

Clearly still carrying a post-holiday glow, the Duchess was on cheerful form and later staged a walkabout outside Portsmouth's 170m Spinnaker Tower which sits on Gunwharf Quays.

Waiting for her beneath the Tower was an excited crowd, who showered her with posies and, while Ainslie himself gave her a personalised navy cotton t-shirt emblazoned with the Ben Ainslie Racing slogan for Prince George.

Once inside the Tower, Kate was shown some of the technology being used to create specialist docking rib boats for Ainslie's America's Cup bid and was also introduced to community leaders and teachers and students from City College in nearby Southampton.

Kate Middleton shows off baby bump in elegant cream coat

Listening in: The Duchess of Cambridge showed off her £99 Somerset by Alice Temperley dress once inside the Spinnaker Tower

Impressive: The top of the 170m Spinnaker Tower is home to a viewing platform which gives a birdseye view of Portsmouth harbour

Interest: The Duchess has long had an interest in sailing and is co-patron, with Sir Ben Ainslie, of the 1851 Trust

Construction: From the top of the Tower, the docks where Ainslie's America's Cup boats are being built could be seen

Not long to go: The Duchess is expecting her second child, which last month she admitted she could feel kicking during engagements

Busy schedule: The outing was Kate's third this week, which began with a visit to a London hospital school on Tuesday

Risky business: The Duchess risked getting her cream coat dirty when she joined local youngsters to help paint a maritime themed mural

Living dangerously: The Duchess risks getting paint on her coat as she gets up close and personal with the mural

Pretty: The mural is a depiction of the Hampshire coastline from Portsmouth to Ryde and includes views of the Isle of Wight and the Solent

Enjoying herself: The Duchess burst into fits of laughter as her role in creating the maritime mural was explained

Nice work: The Duchess painted part of a docking rib boat, two of which will be used in the 2017 America's Cup attempt, into the mural

On form: The Duchess appeared to enjoy showing off her creative skills and added part of this boat (right) to the maritime mural

The apprentices, who will play a role in building the boats, are being taught by expert boat builder Darren Patten at the College’s Marine Skills Centre, and will also use 3D printers to create some of the parts.

Kate, who is almost seven months pregnant, has long been keen on sailing and was with Sir Ben Ainslie when he launched his bid for 2017 America's Cup glory at the Maritime Museum in Greenwich last June.

On that occasion, Kate and Sir Ben were joined by fellow sailing fan, Duran Duran star Simon Le Bon, and were also given a look at the trophy, which was commissioned from jewellers Garrard by Queen Victoria, itself.

Then, in October last year, it was announced that the Duchess had agreed to become patron of the America's Cup bid's associated 1851 Trust, a charity that aims to ensure future British wins by encouraging youngsters into the sport.

Perfect for George! Sir Ben Ainslie gave the Duchess a personalised Henri Lloyd t-shirt for Prince George emblazoned with his team's logo

Low key: The Duchess, seen here chatting to Sir Ben Ainslie outside the Spinnaker Tower, kept her hair and make-up classic and simple

All smiles: The Duchess beamed broadly as she made her way towards the headquarters of the 1851 Trust

Feeling broody? The almost seven months pregnant Duchess stopped to say hello to a baby girl who was waiting outside with her mother

Glowing: A fresh-faced Duchess also showed off a golden tan, clearly picked up during her holiday in the Caribbean

Delighted: The locals looked absolutely delighted to meet the Duchess as she took part in a walkabout in Portsmouth

In a statement released shortly after the announcement was made, the Duchess spoke of her love of sailing and credited the sport with boosting her confidence and skills.

'I feel very fortunate to have enjoyed sailing from a young age and I know it is a great way of providing young people with the opportunity to develop skills and confidence,' she said.

'It is a hugely exciting time for sailing as the British challenger bids to bring the America’s Cup back to Britain. I am looking forward to being part of this journey and I hope that through The 1851 Trust we can engage and inspire a new generation into sailing along the way.'

Known affectionately as the 'Auld Mug', the America's Cup was first offered as a prize by Queen Victoria in 1851, who volunteered to present it to the winner of a sailing race around the Isle of Wight.

After a schooner named America from New York took the trophy, which was made especially for the race by jewellers Garrard, the cup was renamed in its honour, and both cup and race have carried the moniker ever sinc

Swapping stories: The Duchess, who was clearly on good form, made one well-wisher burst into laughter

Elegant: The Duchess is recently returned from Mustique and has been back at work since Tuesday, when she visited a London school

Passionate: Kate, when not nearly seven months pregnant, is a keen sailing fan and hopes to help Britain win the America's Cup in 2017

Big plans: The UK has never won the America's Cup, which was commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1851 for a race around the Isle of Wight

A two-yacht race, the America's Cup is fought between the previous year's winner - known as the 'defender' - and a challenger, which is usually the best boat from a series of run-off rounds.

But while Britannia might rule the waves in other respects, a British team is yet to take the trophy which, despite having been won by Swiss and Australian teams in the past, has for the most part been doggedly defended by the Americans - among them last year's winner, San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club - throughout its 132-year history.

That, however, is something the Duchess of Cambridge and Sir Ben hope to change, and hope, given enough sponsorship, to assemble a race-winning boat and the sailors to crew it over the next three years.

Sir Ben Ainslie, who is also a patron of the 1851 Trust, spoke of his excitement about the challenge ahead and what it could mean for the marine industry.

'We’re really excited about what the Trust can do,' he said. 'We are dependent on the oceans and the marine industry needs to become a leader in environmental stewardship, and in finding solutions.

'Young people are the key, there are great opportunities in the marine industry, and we want to open those opportunities up to as many people as possible – the more talent you have working on a problem, the better the solutions will be.'

Duchess of Cambridge meets Olympian Ben Ainslie (archive)

On her way: The Duchess of Cambridge waved happily to the crowds as she was driven away and back to London

Animated: The Duchess looked refreshed and happy following her Mustique holiday to celebrate mother Carole's 60th birthday

Yummy mummy: The Duchess teamed her Max Mara coat with a £99 Somerset by Alice Temperley dress and a £395 pair of Jimmy Choo courts

Snap! Builders, who are scheduled to complete the building project in May this year, stopped to take photos on their smartphones

Royal visit: Workers at the construction site lined up on the scaffolding to see the Duchess of Cambridge arrive

Treats fit for a Queen: The Duchess of Cambridge travelled with a car full of traditional Mint Imperials and Werther's Originals sweets

EYES ON THE PRIZE: THE SAILING TROPHY THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE (AND SIR BEN) ARE DETERMINED TO WIN

It might be named for the new world, but the America's Cup has very British origins. First offered by Queen Victoria in 1851, the inaugural America's Cup race was run around the Isle of Wight.

A two-yacht race, the Cup is fought between the previous year's winner - known as the 'defender' - and a challenger, which is usually the best boat from a series of run-off rounds.

Last year's winner, like the majority of victors, was American and came from San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club. However, all that could be about to change if the Duchess of Cambridge and SIr Ben Ainslie get their way.