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Just a day after spending the day on a farm and having a go a shearing sheep during a day of engagements in Cumbria, the Duchess of Cambridge today swapped hiking boots for sparkly Jimmy Choo heels as she attended the first annual Action on Addiction gala in recognition of Addiction Awareness Week.
Kate, 37, who is the patron of Action on Addiction stepped out wearing a beautiful white, off-the-shoulder gown by Barbara Casasola which she teamed with silver sparkly heels by Jimmy Choo and a matching silver clutch.
Kate stepped out in a white off-the-shoulder Barbara Casasola dress. (Image: Getty)
And it’s not the first time the duchess has worn the gorgeous number, first wearing when she presented the Art Fund Museum of the Year Award in 2016 – and with how elegant the gown is, it’s no wonder she’d be eager to wear it again.
The inaugural gala coincides with Addiction Awareness Week in the UK, which aims to provide a platform for focused conversation about the many different facets of addiction and to enable a wide range of organisations to engage with people and families who may be affected by addiction.
Kate chats to Jay and Melanie about how Action on Addiction’s recovery programme had helped them. (Image: Getty)
In an post on the Kensington Palace Instagram account, the Palace explains that as well as raising public awareness about the negative effects of addiction, the ultimate hope is that by sharing honest and inspirational stories, those affected by addiction will feel more comfortable to take the necessary steps to access help, hope and freedom their addiction.
Ahead of the gala the Duchess spoke with former Action on Addiction clients Jay Otty and Melanie Bennett to see how the Action on Addiction programme had helped them.
Jay, a key member of the ‘front of house’ staff at a ‘dry bar’ in Liverpool, was helping to prepare food for the gala dinner, having now worked as a chef for seven years after being clean and sober for nine.
Melanie explained to the Duchess that the recovery programme had essentially saved her life, teaching her coping mechanisms and new behaviours and helped her start the grieving process for her father which she had been blocking for ten years.
Action on Addiction is one of Kate’s key causes and was one of the very first patronages she was bestowed and is the only UK addictions charity that works across all areas of research, treatment, family support and professional education.
Speaking at the gala the Duchess said: “I’m hugely passionate about the support it provides, especially for parents, children and families who suffer from, or through, addiction. And in some ways, it was the catalyst for my interest in early childhood development too.”
She added that the remarkable thing about Action on Addiction is that it goes beyond helping those who are suffering on the courageous journey into recovery by also lending direct support to the children and families affected by addiction.
The duchess gave a brief speech at the gala dinner. (Image: Getty)
During her trip to Cumbria with Prince William the Duchess had also impressed locals with her work and passion about early intervention among youth.
“She talked about the subject of early intervention among the youth and schools,” recovery coach Phil Caine, told PEOPLE.
“You can see she’s really keen to look into it further.”
Simon Morsby, who has since recovered from drug use added: “I felt I could have talked to her for an hour and she would have wanted to do so too.
“I was really impressed.”
