Duchess of Cambridge makes a surprise visit to UCL to learn more about early years intervention

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at UCL in London (Getty)
The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at UCL in London (Getty)

The Duchess of Cambridge made a surprise visit to a UCL Neuroscience Lab in London this afternoon, to learn more from their research into how environment and biology interact to shape the way in which children develop both socially and emotionally.

Kate met Professor Eamon McCrory, Co-Director of the Developmental Risk and Resilience Unit in the Psychology & Language Sciences Division at UCL, who spoke to her about the Unit’s groundbreaking research on how early experiences and trauma shapes brain function. She was shown the Unit’s MRI Scanning Facility before joining a round table meeting with leading researchers and students.

The visit ties in with Kate’s work on early years and children’s mental health. Earlier this year, she set up a steering group made up of practitioners and academics from a range of disciplines, including neuroscience, mental health, nursing, perinatal care and education.

Kate wore a burgundy skirt suit by Paule Ka (Getty)
Kate wore a burgundy skirt suit by Paule Ka (Getty)

According to The Daily Mail, the Duchess is reportedly setting up her own campaign in the new year to help disadvantaged children in Britain.

Kate wore a burgundy Paule Ka skirt suit with a black polo neck jumper for the visit. She teamed it with her trusty black Tod’s pumps, her Mulberry Bayswater clutch and her £5,000 Asprey Oak Leaf earrings. Her sister-in-law Meghan donned a Club Monaco outfit in a similar hue for her return visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen earlier in the day.

Last week, the Duke and Duchess visited South Yorkshire where they opened McLaren’s Automotive’s new Composites Technology Centre in Rotherham and visited a Centrepoint hostel in Barnsley, where they helped to prepare lunch for residents.

They were also at the BBC in London to learn more about what the broadcaster was doing to tackle cyber bullying. In a powerful speech, William hit out at major tech companies for failing to protect children from the negative effects of social media.

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