Prince William and Duchess Catherine have proved themselves to be stylish royals, amazing parents and passionate advocates for social causes – which they proved at their first joint royal engagement since Prince Louis’ birth.
The couple attended the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London on Tuesday where they encountered a situation neither seemed quite prepared for – but they gave it a crack all the same.
The pair met a contemporary artist Dario Vargas, who asked the royal couple to try their hand at painting.
Perhaps as a ruse to put off his own attempt, Wills quickly suggested Kate to go first saying, “She’s the arty one”.
Brave Kate then stepped forward and painted a small stroke on a canvas depicting a person.
“Fine?” She asked Vargas.
Wills was quick to respond: “It’s almost ruined the picture!” He said, causing everyone, Kate included, to laugh.
But it appeared William spoke too soon. As he stepped up to the mark, paintbrush in hand, he boldly stated: “No, this is how you ruin a picture.”
Then, he added his own swipe of paint near the bottom of the picture.
Ever the people’s royals, the couple both wore recycled outfits to the event, with Kate donning a long-sleeved Emilia Wickstead dress in lilac, while William wore a smart black and white suit.
This was the couple’s first official outing together since Kate returned from her five-month maternity leave last week.
The mental health summit is something both royals are passionate about, with the couple and Prince Harry spearheading the Heads Together campaign, which encourages people to have healthy conversations around mental illness.
The summit hosted a range of experts and people in politics who came together to address the stigma surrounding mental health. It coincides with World Mental Health Day on October 10.
Last year, Kate, Wills and Harry stepped out together on World Mental Health day to voice their support for the Heads Together initiative.
The royal trio took time out to campaign for the charity by meeting with people affected by mental illness.
The Duchess of Cambridge also took the opportunity to address the crowd, pledging that she and her husband would “do what we can to shine a spotlight on emotional wellbeing”.
She said: “I think the stigma of mental health needs to go.
“It’s a really dark place and one that isn’t always seen and I think some people don’t even understand they’re dealing with their own emotional health, almost until it’s too late.”