Broadcaster Kate Silverton reveals Kate Middleton has ‘an enquiring mind’ and is ‘clearly compassionate’ after working with her on royal patronages
- Broadcaster Kate Silverton works several children’s charities including Place2Be
- The presenter also works with the Anne Freud National Centre for Children
- Duchess, 38, is patron of both, with the two women working together on projects
Broadcaster Kate Silverton has praised the Duchess of Cambridge as she opened up about working with the royal on her patronages.
The presenter, who holds a BSc in child psychology, has met with Kate Middleton, 38, several times while working with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Charities and Place2Be.
She explained how the royal is ‘passionate about mental health’ for young children, before adding that ‘people find it really easy to talk with her. ‘
Kate told Hello magazine: ‘She’s really impressive, has an enquiring mind and, as a parent, is clearly compassionate for all those she comes into contact with. ‘
Broadcaster Kate Silverton praised the Duchess of Cambridge for her ongoing work with children, calling the royal ‘really impressive’ (pictured together at an event in February 2019)
The broadcaster went on to lament the importance of Kate’s role with the charities, saying that ‘a lot of children’ have benefited from her patronages.
She added: ‘You can see what it gives them to be seen, heard and noticed by the Duchess of Cambridge.’
Set up in 1994 by Dame Benny Refson DBE, Place2Be provides emotional support at an early age and believes that no child should face mental health difficulties alone.
Over the past 25 years more than 250,000 children and their families have been directly supported by Place2Be, which currently works with 639 schools across the UK.
Kate, who has met with the royal on several occasions, called the Duchess of Cambridge ‘clearly compassionate for all she comes into contact with’
Since her patronage began in 2013, the duchess has met pupils, families and staff at Place2Be partner schools to see the vital work being done by the charity.
Place2Be has also collaborated with The Royal Foundation on a number of projects: they are a charity partner for the Heads Together Campaign and Mentally Healthy Schools website, in addition to working with Shout – a free, 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis which was launched nationally by their Royal Highnesses in 2019.
In one of her final appearances before the coronavirus lockdown in March, Kate hosted an evening reception at Buckingham Palace for the charity.
Kate has made ‘early years’ intervention one of the cornerstones of her public work after seeing how so many problems faced by adults she had met – including those suffering with mental health issues, addiction and social exclusion – stem from their childhood.
The Duchess has long been passionate about childhood development, with several of her patronages focused on the topic
In February, Kate launched the survey ‘5 Big Questions on the Under Fives’, which aimed to spark the biggest ever conversation on early childhood that will ultimately help bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come.
It is designed to bring together the thoughts of as many people as possible – recognising that everyone has a role in ensuring strong, healthy foundations for the youngest in our society that will positively affect their lifelong outcomes.
At the time, royal experts praised Kate for the project, with Harper Bazaar’s Omid Scobie revealing how Kate had ‘quietly picked up steam’ with the project.
Kate hosted an evening reception for Place2Be as one of her final engagements before lockdown in March
Omid said the Duchess had ‘really stepped out into a more confident role’ in The Firm as she launched her Early Years work which will be a ‘lifelong project’ for the royal.
Speaking on the Heirpod podcast, he said Kate’s voice was getting ‘louder and louder as she gains more confidence’ in her position within the royal family.
He said: ‘I think there had been times where it felt like she wasn’t doing a lot…and we’re now at a point where I think she’s really realising the impact that she can have when using her platform wisely.’