The Duchess of Cambridge has undertaken two days of work experience at a maternity ward, it has been revealed.
Posted to the Court Circular, Duchess Catherine “completed two days with Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit in London,” a bustling ward which last year delivered more than 5900 babies, and also offers assistance with home births, alongside a midwife-led unit, The Daily Mail reports.
While no further details were revealed about the two-day experience, the royal mother-of-three has made early childhood development and children’s mental health key focuses in her royal work.
Earlier this month she opened a new children’s hospice called the Nook, as part of her role as patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Kate has made early childhood development and children’s mental health key focuses in her royal work. (Image: Getty)
In May Duchess Catherine collaborated on a garden project with the Royal Horticultural Society, to design a garden which encouraged children to play and explore.
The garden, coined ‘Back To Nature’ was originally unveiled at the Chelsea Garden Show, before moving to Hampton Court Palace’s Garden Festival, and finally becoming a permanent fixture at the RHS Garden Wisley, features a waterfall and stream, den, campfire, treehouse and rope swing, as well as a bug hotel, hidden burrow and bee-friendly wildflower meadow.
Kate and William’s eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, enjoying the garden their mother helped design. (Image: Matt Porteous)
“I really feel that nature and being interactive outdoors has huge benefits on our physical and mental wellbeing, particularly for young children,” Duchess Catherine previously told the BBC.
“I really hope that this woodland that we have created really inspires families, kids and communities to get outside, enjoy nature and the outdoors, and spending quality time together.”
Writing about the garden on Instagram, Kensington Palace added the interactive features of the garden enabled children to develop skills for life through free play, building their confidence, strength, resilience and social skills.
Duchess Catherine isn’t the only Cambridge to undertake work experience.
In April Prince William also revealed he’d undertaken secret work experience, after spending three weeks immersing himself in the secret world of espionage.
In a statement released by the Palace, Prince William worked across three different security services: the Secret Intelligence Service, known as the MI6; the Security Service, MI5; and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).
“Spending time inside our security and intelligence agencies, understanding more about the vital contribution they make to our national security, was a truly humbling experience,” William said at the time.
“These agencies are full of people from everyday backgrounds doing the most extraordinary work to keep us safe.
“The work in secret, often not even able to tell their family and friends about the work they do or the stresses they face.
“They are driven by an unrivalled patriotism and dedication to upholding the values of our country,” he adds.
“We all owe them deep gratitude for the difficult and dangerous work they do.”
