Yesterday’s Court Circular revealed something quite unusual: that The Duchess of Cambridge had spent two days ‘with Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit in London’.
Kate’s time with the midwives and staff of the unit came as part of her work with the Royal Foundation, and her maternal mental health and early years work.
Duchess Kate speaks the symposium on the importance of early intervention (Kensington Palace)
Hello magazine reports that a source has told them about Catherine’s secret work experience. “Kate divided her time on the unit, visiting the antenatal, postnatal and labour wards,” the article write.
The Duchess “even went out on a community midwife visit!”
Speaking in March 2018 at an early intervention symposium, the Duchess said of maternal mental health: “We need to highlight how important it is to support mothers too, potentially even before they give birth. They need to be aware how vulnerable they might be and, critically, know where they can find help for themselves, as well as for their babies and toddlers.”
Just last week we found out that Prince William and Kate had held a party for midwives, when one of the attendees posted a picture of the invite. The event was hosted at the five-star Rosewood Hotel in London, where she met representatives from the midwife profession for a Christmas celebration.
The Duchess of Cambridge visits the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, February 2018. Picture by Pete Maclaine / i-Images
Catherine is patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which was an organisation previously supported by The Queen Mother.
She has previously learnt about the topic of prenatal mental health last January, spending time on two maternity units. This is the first extended period of time we have learnt about, however.
