The Duchess of Cambridge has been enjoying a break away from her Royal duties over the Christmas and New Year period, spending some quality time with her family.
But she looked over the moon to be back at work, and flashed a beaming smile as she met school children at Reach Academy in Feltham, west London, on Wednesday. Catherine chose to recycle a stylish blue maternity dress she was reportedly seen wearing twice during her pregnancy with Princess Charlotte previously.
Showing a hint of her growing baby bump, Prince William’s wife, 36, wrapped up outside in a matching knee-length blue coat, and braved some subtle blue heels for the outing. Once inside, she showed off her vibrant, floral blue dress as she met staff and pupils.
The school works with the children’s mental health charity Place2Be, a subject close to the Duchess’ heart, and she was met inside by pupils aged four-18 singing Nina Simone’s hit ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free’. Catherine chose to wear a favourite dress from her previous pregnancy, believed to be Seraphine’s £65 (AU$112) ‘Florrie’ frock.
According to the Mail Online, after watching the singing, Catherine told the school children she was “very impressed with the singing”, adding: “I wish every morning could start off like that.” One child then offered her a bouquet of flowers as she met teachers and parents, and offered a helping hand with a painting class.
Place2Be provides children’s mental health services to 282 schools in the UK, and the Duchess has been the royal patron for the charity since 2013.
Meanwhile, it’s certainly not the first time the Duchess has recycled some of her favourite outfits. She wrapped up her baby bump in a thick coat and showed off her statement style in a huge furry hat as she enjoyed a royal outing at Sandringham on Sunday.
Catherine appeared to recycle her Moloh coat £445 (AU$769) for the occasion and showed off her small baby bump as she braved the cold.
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And just weeks ago, she visited the Robin Hood Primary School in London to celebrate the school’s gardening program, wearing a knitted black jumper, black leggings and her favourite brown knee-high boots.
While the Duchess has the world’s biggest designers clamouring to dress her, when it comes to casual events she can’t go past her 13-year-old Penelope Chilvers Long Tassel Boots, which she’s been wearing since her university days at St Andrews with Prince William.
She was first pictured wearing them at a photoshoot in 2004 and has pulled them out of the closest at multiple royal events since, including on international trips with William and family events in England.