Warner Brothers Studios Inauguration

William, Kate and Harry attend the Inauguration of Warner Brothers Studios Leavesden.

Today the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with Prince Harry attended the inauguration of Warner Brothers Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire.

During the first part of the studio tour, they met members of creative teams who gave them an insight into the film making process and showed them some props and costumes used for recent films.

 William, Kate and Harry arrive for the Inauguration of Warner Brothers Studios Leavesden.

 

William, Kate and Harry then attended the official inauguration of Warner Brothers Studios Leavesden, where William gave a short speech. 

William, Kate and Harry raise their wands on the set used to 

depict Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter Films.

 Kate looks at the costume for the character Hagrid on display on the set used to depict Hogwart's 

'Great Hall' in the Harry Potter films.

 Kate plays with a magic wand on the set used to depict Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films.

Following the inauguration, William, Kate and Harry took a "The Making of Harry Potter," where they viewed props, costumes and models from the Harry Potter film series. The tour included a visit to the Great Hall, a wand lesson in The Gryffindor Common Room, and a special effects demonstration on Diagon Alley.

The visit concluded with William, Kate and Harry hosting a meeting for their Charities Forum in the Great Hall.

 William and Kate arrives at the Inauguration of Warner Brothers Studios Leavesden. 

Photo courtesy of Getty Images Europe.

 Kate speaks to British author J.K Rowling.

  I think it's an unconscious gesture as they seem to be deep in conversation...

her face is too relaxed for it to be a surprise kick  :-))

William checks out the 'Batpod', which was used in the Batman films.

 William and Harry look at a "Batsuit" which was used in the Batman films.

 William and Harry take at the "Tumbler," a vehicle used in the Batman films.

William, Kate and Harry attend the Inauguration of Warner Brothers Studios Leavesden.

Kate wore a new £38 cream"Tall Polka Dot Dress" by Topshop. The 100% polyester dress featured a full skirt and a back zip closure. At the time of this posting, the dress was sold out. Kate recycled a black Ralph Lauren blazer to wear over the dress. Kate also recycled her black suede "Angel" heels by Episode. Kate accessorized her outfit with a black suede clutch and pearl drop earrings.

The Art Room Reception at the National Portrait Gallery

Kate attended an evening reception to celebrate the work of The Art Room at 

the National Portrait Gallery in London.

This evening, Wednesday, April 24, 2013, the Duchess of Cambridge, a patron of The Art Room, attended a reception to celebrate the charity's 11th anniversary and to launch the 'Pledge for the Future' appeal. The event took place at the National Portrait Gallery in London, where Kate is also a patron.

 Kate arrives for an evening reception to celebrate the work of The Art Room at 

The National Portrait Gallery in London.

 At an evening reception to celebrate the work of The Art Room at The National Portrait Gallery

 in London, Kate walks by a portrait of Prince William and Prince Harry.

The color was beautiful on Kate, she looked simply radiant, happy and relaxed. In several photos the fit of the garment seemed off, with pulling under the arms, it is hard to know if it was just those photos or the dress itself. 

There was a small group of students taking part in the evening’s event, Kate spent time chatting with them.  The charity is celebrating its 11th anniversary, tonight’s function served as the formal launch of the Art Room’s ‘Pledge for the Future’ fundraising drive.

 During a speech at an evening reception to celebrate the work of The Art Room at The National 

Portrait Gallery in London, Kate said, "I am a firm believer in the power of art to make a difference."

The piece is crafted of a heavy, textured crepe material. It is sleeveless, with a round neckline in front that dips down for a squared, scooped back. Our thanks to People Magazine’s Simon Perry for sharing this photo of Kate at tonight’s reception.

  

Kate wore a new light blue, sleeveless bespoke dress by Emilia Wickstead that featured an empire waist and a full skirt. Kate accessorized the dress with a pair of diamond drop earrings and grey suede "Malone" heels by Rupert Sanderson London that she has wore in the past.

 Kate talked to children while attending an evening reception to celebrate the work of The Art Room at

 The National Portrait Gallery in London.

 Hundreds of well-wishers waited outside the National Portrait Gallery to catch a glimpse of 

Kate as she arrived for an evening reception to celebrate the work of The Art Room.

 Kate was presented with a bouquet of flowers as she left an evening reception to celebrate 

the work of The Art Room at The National Portrait Gallery in London.

 Kate waved good-bye to well-wishers as she left an evening reception to celebrate 

the work of The Art Room at The National Portrait Gallery in London.

The Willows Primary School

Kate Middleton calls addiction a hugely complex and destructive disease in speech 

on Wythenshawe estate visit 

 

On April 23, 2013, the Duchess of Cambridge visited The Willows Primary School in Wythenshawe, Manchester to launch a new school counseling program that is a partnership between The Royal Foundation, Comic Relief, Place2Be and Action on Addiction to reduce the impact of drug and alcohol addiction on children and their families. 

The pregnant Duchess of Cambridge kicked off a busy working week today launching a counselling programme in an inspirational sink-estate school in Manchester. Kate, 31,  showed her 28-week baby bump in a floral Erdem dress and blue suede heels as she met staff and pupils at The Willows Primary School on the deprived Wythenshawe estate.

The school is used as a backdrop for Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless and suffered devastation shortly after Kate’s visit as announced when its new £40,000 playground was torched by vandals. But the community rallied round to clear up the playground and head teacher Ann Whitehead said they were “not going to let them beat us”. She added: “The response has been so overwhelming and restored my faith. “People just turned up out of nowhere to help clear the place up.” 

Kate’s visit today was to highlight a new school counselling programme called M-PACT, which supports children whose parents are addicted to drugs or alcohol. The programme is a partnership between the Royal Foundation, Comic Relief and Kate’s charities Place2Be and Action on Addiction.

She was accompanied by comedian John Bishop, a Comic Relief ambassador, and was greeted by hundreds of excited children cheering and waving the national flag of England in honour of St George’s Day. At the entrance she was met by Chloe Pomfret, 10, who presented a posy of roses, and school ‘executive dog’ King Charles Cavalier Henry who was wearing a glittering union flag bow. 

Kate looked delighted when she was given a gorgeous gift hamper for her dog, Lupo. She asked what was in it and laughed: “Henry , you have gone to so much trouble.” During her visit Kate gave a rare speech and described the issue of addiction as a “hugely complex and destructive disease.”

She continued: “All too often, lives and families can be shattered by it. “Through my Patronage of Action on Addiction, I feel fortunate to have met a wide range of inspirational people who have overcome addiction. “But those who are addicted are not the only victims.  

“I have been struck by the profound and deeply damaging impact it has on the children of affected parents. “Research has shown that children of those who are addicted are seven times more likely to have addiction problems themselves. “They are also brought up surrounded by fear, instability and chaos.”

Launching the new counselling programme, she added: “My hope is that through this specialist and targeted delivery of care, these children will have the best possible start in life – the one that they deserve.”

Afterwards comedian and Comic Relief ambassador John Bishop gave a moving speech about the affect of addiction on young children but couldn’t resist opening with a wise crack about being a Liverpudlian in Manchester after their home team had won the Premier League for the 20h time.

The notorious Wythenshawe estate, home to almost 70,000 people, is the second biggest of its kind in Europe and has been plagued by unemployment, crime and social disorder. When David Cameron visited in 2007 as part of his ‘hug a hoodie’ campaign, a youth was pictured behind him pretending to cock a gun against his head.

Recently, however, new funds have been ploughed into Wythenshawe as part of a major programme of re-development and the area’s schools, particularly its primary schools, are a particular success story.

Kate, who is due to give birth in mid-July, plans to continue royal duties throughout her pregnancy until mid-June, and her schedule has been organised so she has several public engagements in a row then the chance to rest behind the scenes.

Kate met staff members and volunteers from Place2Be; teachers and parents from The Willows Primary School; and privately she met with with children who have used the services of the program. Kate was accompanied on her visit by British comedian John Bishop, a Comic Relief ambassador.