Back to work with her bangs! Kate shows off new 'do as she resumes her royal duties after the birth of Princess Charlotte
- Kate, 33, looked chic in belted £1,245 Ralph Lauren shirtdress teamed with black stilettos
- Tour of Anna Freud Centre in central London was her first solo public engagement since birth of Charlotte in May
- Kate watched the youngsters taking part in a range of activities at centre named after daughter of Sigmund Freud
- Aides say Kate is keen to explore child mental health issues and emphasise the importance of early intervention
- Royal mother-of-two will join Princes William and Harry at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup on Friday
Looking tanned and relaxed - and still sporting her much talked about new fringe - the Duchess of Cambridge arrived back at work on Thursday.
Kate, 33, was at the Anna Freud Centre in North London to learn more about how it is helping to change mental health care for children and young people on her first engagement since taking the summer off to spend with her young family.
Looking slim in a £1,245 Ralph Lauren shirtdress, Kate's funky new fringe was on full display as she greeted Michael Samuel, chairman of the trustees of the Anna Freud Centre, with a warm embrace upon her arrival.
After enjoying a summer break with her children, Prince George, two, and Princess Charlotte, four months, at their new family home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, aides said the Duchess was looking forward to getting back to a limited programme of engagements.
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Looking slim in a checked £1,245 Ralph Lauren shirtdress, Kate's new fringe was on full display as she chatted to staff on her arrival at the Anna Freud Centre in London on Thursday
Kate appeared in good spirits as she arrived at the centre in her supremely stylish dress. On Ralph Lauren's website, the 'Silk Austin Shirtdress' worn by Kate is described as having a 'supremely flattering fit' and comes with a patent leather belt that promises to accentuate the waist.
Her choice of the Anna Freud Centre was an interesting one and will, say sources, set the tone for much of her work in the coming months.
Kate is keen, they say, to explore child mental health issues and emphasise the importance of early intervention, as well as working with the whole family to provide children with in-school mental health services.
Unusually for a royal visitor, Kate greeted Michael Samuel, chairman of Trustees, with a kiss on both cheeks.
He told her and assembled guests: 'We are absolutely delighted that you are here and very grateful and hope that today you will get a real insight into all aspects of our work.
'Your continued support on this very important issue will be an invaluable ingredient towards making the real and urgent progress which is necessary in this area.'
Kate, 33, was still sporting her new bangs and a healthy glow on her first day back at work and looked trim in a houndstooth dress by Ralph Lauren for the occasion
The mother-of-two showcased her trim figure and slender legs as she arrived confidently to greet staff at the centre
Kate's visit was for the Duchess to see how the charity is working to lead a step change in children's and young people's mental health care
Kate claps and smiles as she listens to staff at the centre talk about the work, which is close to her heart
Looking trim and chic in the £1,245 Ralph Lauren shirtdress, Kate showed off her toned legs as she spent the morning at the centre in London on her first official duty since welcoming Princess Charlotte
Do it like the Duchess in houndstooth by Ralph Lauren
Duchess day has finally arrived.
Yes, Kate returned to her Royal duties today with her first solo engagement since the birth of Princess Charlotte. And it was certainly worth the wait! Without the Duchess of Cambridge to copy, what have we all been wearing for the last few months?
She arrived at the Anna Freud Center in London looking her usual sophisticated self, sporting that much talked about fringe and a brand new dress. It's a black and white belted silk shirt dress by Ralph Lauren Black Label and we love the heritage houndstooth print, plus the fact that it's a new direction for the Duchess. But of course she teamed it with black court heels and a clutch bag to keep things classic!
We know she's usually a fan of the high street, but this designer number will set you back $1595. Click the link (right) to buy it now if you're a dedicated Duchess fan, in which case you'll know you've got to be quick off the mark before it sells out!
Or if you want so spend a little less, check out the Duchess-esque options we've got lined up for you in the edit below. This Diane von Furstenberg version has got your name written all over it!
The Duchess is pictured with a pair of 3D glasses during a game which helps the children with discipline and coordination
The Duchess is pictured with Kaionel, who took her around his class and got her to play coordination games
Kate, who looked chic in houndstooth, was in high spirits as she joined Kaionel for some coordination games
Kate was treated to a tour of the centre, which works to improve the lives of children and young people with mental health problems
The Duchess is pictured laughing with Mia, who talked to her about her classes
The Duchess of Cambridge visited the Anna Freud Centre for Children in Islington and Kaionel took her around his class
Michael Samuel, chairman of Trustees, told her and assembled guests: 'We are absolutely delighted that you are here and very grateful and hope that today you will get a real insight into all aspects of our work'
Kate's new bangs get caught in a breeze as she is treated to a tour of the centre on Thursday
A royal spokesman said: 'The Duchess wants to play a part in the open discussion around the emotional and mental wellbeing of children. Building on her work over the last 18 months, she will continue to champion the valuable work that many charities and organisations are carrying out in this field'
Kate also won praise from mother-of-two Andrea Noguera, who said the charity had been a 'lifeline' when she was diagnosed with post-natal depression five years ago.
Andrea, 33, who turned to the Anna Freud Centre while living in a cramped homeless hospital with her husband and four-month-old son, is now a member of AFC's parents' panel.
She said: 'It's wonderful that she has come here because that shows me that she's interested in families and children and the problems that people can have.
'I imagine it's because she's a mum herself, she has compassion for families and kids who are suffering in difficult situations.
'These problems don't come only to people who live in hostels, they can happen to very wealthy families.'
Andrea, originally from Colombia, revealed the immaculately-groomed Duchess had noticed her manicure, adding: 'She said she liked my nails.'
Speaking about her experience of being helped by the charity, she said: 'I have gone from not being able to cope to helping other people to gain hope and confidence by tackling their own issues.
'Without the support of the Anna Freud Centre, none of that would be possible.'
A royal spokesman said: 'The Duchess wants to play a part in the open discussion around the emotional and mental wellbeing of children. Building on her work over the last 18 months, she will continue to champion the valuable work that many charities and organisations are carrying out in this field.'
Looking tanned and relaxed - and still sporting her much talked about new fringe - the Duchess of Cambridge arrived back at work on Thursday
The slender Duchess greets Michael Samuel, chairman of the trustees of the Anna Freud Centre, with a kiss as she arrives at the centre ahead of a busy day of duties
An expressive Kate laughs as she chats to staff inside the centre, where she met children and got involved with activities
Kate accessorised her luxury dress with classic black courts and a boxy black clutch bag
Kate, 33, looks interested as she hears about the way the charity is working to lead a step change in children's and young people's mental health care
Kate, who will see a return to royal duties over the coming weeks - including an appearance at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup - showed off her flattering bangs
Once inside, Kate participated in a range of activities including the 'Smart Gym', which combines technology with sports psychology
The new Campus will be a 'centre for excellence' bring together neuroscience, mental health education and research and families.
The four-storey Family School will house two classrooms and a common room where children, parents and staff can eat together.
Parents sit in on lessons and take their own classes to learn how to better support their children through serious behavioural and emotional issues.
Each classroom has space for six pupils and one parent or carer per child.
Due for completion in Spring 2018, the charity needs another £6million in funding to finish the unique building.
At a reception ahead of Kate's visit, Chief Executive Peter Fogagy told assembled staff and experts: 'It's wonderful and very exciting for the Anna Freud Centre to have the Duchess of Cambridge here.
'It's a very significant step in our journey to try to establish good mental health for children and young people in England.'
After a private briefing on how the charity is working to cut mental health problems in children and young people, she was shown plans for the new Campus and asked questions about it to Jonathan Robinson, Campus project lead and architect Mark Rowe, partner at Penoyre and Prasaad.
Looking at the architects' model, Kate said: 'It's quite a unique approach.' She asked: 'Have you had any problems in terms of planning or have you been very well supported?'
Told everything had gone smoothly so far, she replied: 'Well done and good luck with everything.'
Mr Rowe said: 'She was very interested in the work of the school and their model of short-stay schooling.'
One in ten children and young people and a quarter of all adults experience mental health issues at some time in their lives.
Half of people with mental health problems have their first symptoms by the age of 14.
AFC aims to tackle mental health problems at the earliest possible stage before it becomes a lifelong condition.
The Centre trains more than 3,000 professionals in the field each year and works with experts from University College London and Yale University in the US.
Kate caused quite a stir when she unveiled her new bangs over the weekend, which she was still championing on Thursday
The centre which Kate visited today is considered a unique educational asset in London in that it takes on children who are considered unsuitable or unable to meet the demands of mainstream school provision
After enjoying a summer break with her children, Prince George, two, and Princess Charlotte, four months, at their new family home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, aides said the Duchess was looking forward to getting back to a limited programme of engagements with today being her first
Later Kate donned 3D goggles and earned plaudits after completing a challenging test of her concentration powers on her first solo engagement since Princess Charlotte's birth.
At the Anna Freud Centre's Family School in Islington, North London, she completed the SmartGym Challenge, a series of tests designed to improve mental reaction, attention span, teamwork skills, and relations between pupils and their parents, with ease.
She was presented with a certificate of achievement after watching children demonstrate their skills and having a go at two tests, the neurotracker and fitlights, to check her reactions and concentration.
After donning the goggles to track tennis balls on the neurotracker, the Duchess scored top marks. 'She did very well considering it was her first go. She got all of them right,' said one boy, Capone, 12, who had demonstrated the test to her. 'When I first did it, I think I only got one right. She's a very nice young lady.'
Kate also took part in the fitlights test, aimed at getting a child and parent to work together to hit lights as quickly as possible, with Kaionel, a 12-year-old boy who showed her around the gym. Kaionel, who also demonstrated a third test, the cardio wall, racked up an impressive score even with her taking part.
'I've pulled down your average. Well done,' Kate said. 'It was very well explained. Thank you very much for looking after me.'
The stylish royal showed off her toned legs in a chic Ralph Lauren dress as she arrived at the Anna Ford Centre in London
The new mother looked trimmed as she arrived at the centre, which was an interesting choice and one that will, say sources, set the tone for much of her work in the coming months
The Duchess spent just under an hour at the Family School, which teaches up to 26 children aged between five and 15 with serious emotional and behavioural issues in joint lessons with their parents, offering academic subjects as well as therapeutic support.
The unique school will move and form part of a £25 million integrated site nearby bringing children, parents, and experts on young people's mental health together at the Anna Freud Centre from September 2018. Experts hope the integrated approach will be replicated around the country eventually to help one million children - one in 10 - diagnosed with mental health issues, often as a result of family breakdown, abuse, illness or bereavement. Only around a quarter of those diagnosed receive any help at the moment.
Neil Dawson and Brenda McHugh, co-founders of the school, showed Kate two brain scans demonstrating that the stress levels of a child suffering mental health problems are similar to those of a soldier just returned from combat duty.
'A lot of their capacity to think under pressure has been affected because they are constantly scanning for trouble,' Ms McHugh, said.
'It's incredible the underpinning science behind it,' Kate said.
The Duchess met many of the children and their parents. Among them was Vicky, 43, and her daughter Mia, 12, from Westminster. They told Kate how they had been coming to the school for a year, longer than many of the children who typically are excluded or taken out of school for just a couple of terms to come to the Family School to resolve their problems.
Mia was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hperactivity and Oppositional Defiance Disorder when she was six and the family's problems got worse when Vicky struggled with her own mental health.
'I was suffering from depression. I was in a really bad place,' she said. She and Mia found themselves making each other worse but found salvation at the school. 'I've done a lot of one-to-one work with Brenda and Mia is much better,'Vicky said. 'I've never come across anything like this before.'
Mia added: 'Coming here has really helped me and my self-confidence and my temper.'
Kate will later today visit another nearby centre, The Family School, a charity sponsored by the Anna Freud Centre, which has more than 60 years' experience of working with children suffering from serious emotional and behavioural issues
Anna Freud was the sixth and last child of the legendary Sigmund Freud, and followed her father into the field of psychoanalysis. In fact some consider her to be one of the founders of psychoanalytic child psychology.
In 1952 she founded The Hampstead Clinic, the first child psychoanalytic centre for observational research, teaching and learning.
After her death in 1982 it was renamed the Anna Freud Centre. The Duchess toured the site of its planned Community Campus near King's Cross station.
It will create a new hub for its work on reducing the burden of mental health difficulties carried by children and young people, where experts in mental health, neuroscience and education can work alongside families and children on developing new treatment and approaches.
It already helps to train more than 3,000 professionals in this field each year and it is hoped to expand this work.
Kate also visited another nearby centre, The Family School, a charity sponsored by the Anna Freud Centre, which has more than 60 years' experience of working with children suffering from serious emotional and behavioural issues.
It is designed to provide vulnerable young people and their families on short or long term places, mixing with therapeutic support with traditional academic schooling.
It is considered a unique educational asset in London in that it takes on children who are considered unsuitable or unable to meet the demands of mainstream school provision.
These children, it says, need early and sustained intervention to ensure they are not permanently excluded from school.
Kate participated in a range of activities including the 'Smart Gym', which combines technology with sports psychology.
Kate's hair blew in the wind as she walked around the centre, which already helps to train more than 3,000 professionals in this field each year and it is hoped to expand this work
On Ralph Lauren's website, the quintessential shirtdress worn by Kate, who tenderly patted her guide on the back, is described as having a 'supremely flattering fit' and comes with a patent leather belt that promises to accentuate the waist
The 33-year-old showcased her glossy brunette locks and a healthy glow as she made her way inside the centre on Thursday
Kate teamed her high-end dress with a pair of her trusty black stilettos, which highlighted her toned and trim legs
Kate, 33, was in good spirits at the Anna Freud Centre in North London to learn more about how it is helping to change mental health care for children and young people on her first engagement since taking the summer off to spend with her young family
The Duchess of Cambridge caused quite a stir when she arrived for morning prayers at Crathie Kirk church in Scotland on Sunday debuting a chic new hairstyle.
Kate, who will see a return to royal duties over the coming weeks - including an appearance at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup - debuted flattering bangs for the occasion.
The royal mother-of-two showed off a flattering fringe and shorter style as she sat in the passenger seat of the Range Rover driven by Prince William. This isn't the first time that Kate has showcased a fringe; she wore one on a trip to the National History Museum back in 2012.
A senior stylist at leading Mayfair hairdresser Jo Hansford described the cut as 'really flattering' but admitted she would have liked to see the Duchess go a bit shorter.
Tess Boyle, whose salon boasts clients including the Duchess of Cornwall, supermodel Yasmin le Bon and the woman who, until today, held the title of the most famous fringe in Britain, Claudia Winkleman, said: 'I'm really pleased that she has finally done something a bit different.
'It's really flattering and shapes her face nicely. I think the whole style makes her look younger. Women who have had a baby often find their confidence a bit low and are worried about becoming 'mummsy', so changing your hair can be something to make you feel good about yourself, give yourself a boost and a bit of change.'
But Tess, who has cut the hair of several members of the royal family, including Kate’s husband, Prince William, when he was a child, added: 'I still feel the overall length could be shorter. Probably about another four inches off the length would blend it better together and create more of a style. I think it can look a bit disjointed in some pictures as there is still so much length.
'It could be this is something she is planning to do in stages. When your hair is your crowning glory and you have had it at that length for so long, it can be quite difficult taking it shorter.'
She added: 'I would also say she has gone a little darker with her colour. It looks wonderfully glossy and in good condition.
'Women can shed a lot of their hair after having a baby, so I expect hers is starting to grow back.'
The Duchess of Cambridge caused a stir when she arrived for morning prayers at Crathie Kirk church in Scotland on Sunday rocking new bangs
Kate, who looked chic in a recycled Hobbs coat and black turtleneck, was driven to the church by her husband, Prince William
This isn't the first time that Kate has showcased a fringe; she wore one on a trip to the National History Museum in 2012
Kate is said to have enjoyed spending the summer with her new daughter and son but is now keen to resume a limited programme of public engagements.
Determined not to become a 'rugby widow', Kate will also join her husband, Prince William, and brother-in-law, Prince Harry, both passionate fans of the sport, at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup which kicks off at Twickenham on September 18.
She is also said to be planning to attend other unconfirmed tournament events.
The Duchess and her husband will also undertake several joint engagements together, including visits to Dundee and North Wales in Late October and late November respectively. Kate, William and Harry will also attend the world premiere of the new Bond movie, Spectre, in London next month.
After enjoying a summer break with her children, Prince George, two, and Princess Charlotte, four months, at their new family home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, aides said the Duchess was looking forward to getting back to a limited programme of engagements
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their daughter, Princess Charlotte, leaving the hospital in London in May, have been busy spending time with their two children in Norfolk
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