Photo by Stuart C. Wilson – WPA Pool /Getty Images(LONDON) — Kate Middleton visited Blessed Sacrament School in Islington North London Tuesday to see how a program she supports to help children dealing with parents addiction was progressing.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 32, arrived to scores of children waving English flags and overwhelmed with excitement about her visit. She wore a stunning coral Goat sheath dress with her hair swept back in loose waves.
She quickly went to greet the cheering students accepting flowers and asking the children what liked best about their school. One little boy named Ezekiel didn’t miss a beat remarking, “lunchtime!” eliciting a big smile from The Duchess.
The program is funded by The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry in conjunction with Comic Relief and two charities of which Middleton is patron Action on Addiction and Place2Be.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said, “The project had been driven by a personal interest by the Duchess. Through her patronage of Action on Addiction The Duchess has become aware of the shattering impact of addiction, not only on those addicted but also their families.” In fact, children of an addicted parent are seven times more likely to develop an addiction themselves. Kate is hoping the program will break that cycle and help children cope with the challenges they face.
The eight-week pilot program seeks to train teachers and administrators to identify young people help whose parents misuse drugs or alcohol and give them the support they need.
Inside the school, The Duchess sat in on a steering group comprised of head teachers and charity workers involved in rolling out the M-PACT Plus scheme.
Kate, listened intently engaged to hear how things were going. “Were the parents quite surprised by the things their children were saying?” she asked.
Also curious, The Duchess of Cambridge questioned the group, “Have you found it difficult to attract parents given the stigma that can be associated with these issues?”
The Duchess launched the program last year when she was pregnant with her son Prince George. Kate was overheard telling comedian John Bishop that “Gorgeous George,” who’s now just shy of his first birthday, was, “racing around and he’s so fast she couldn’t believe he was opening doors already.”
It seems the students didn’t forget their future king either. Upon departure, they presented her with a Picasso-like drawing of Kate cradling Prince George that she took with her as a memento.
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