After opening the Bush House with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Duchess of Cambridge visited the Foundling Museum to understand how they use art to make a positive contribution to society by engaging with vulnerable and marginalised young people.
VIDEO: The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the @FoundlingMuseum as she is announced as their new patron. Kate is wearing the same outfit she wore this morning for her outing with The Queen. pic.twitter.com/UZCW3Q9qBY
— Victoria Murphy (@byQueenVic) March 19, 2019
Ahead of the visit Palace announced that The Duchess of Cambridge become the Patron of the Foundling Museum. Palace said, “The Duchess has a longstanding interest in both the arts and supporting vulnerable families, and this patronage will further highlight the beneficial impact that art and creativity have on emotional wellbeing. Upon arrival, the new patron of the Museum was welcomed with flowers“.
The Foundling Museum tells the history of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity and public art gallery. The Foundling Hospital, which continues today as the children’s charity Coram, was established in 1739 by the philanthropist Thomas Coram to care for babies at risk of abandonment.
The museum works with contemporary artists, writers and musicians to develop learning programmes that are meaningful for young people, especially those who are looked after and care-experienced, to help them see the world differently and imagine new possibilities for themselves.
Caro Howell, Director of the Foundling Museum, said: ‘The Foundling Museum is thrilled and honoured to receive The Duchess’s patronage. Her support is a huge boost to our work transforming the lives of vulnerable young people through the arts.’
At the Museum, Catherine visited ‘Bedrooms of London’, a photography exhibition that documents the living conditions of London’s most disadvantaged children.
In partnership with The Childhood Trust, Bedrooms of London presents a new body of work by photographer Katie Wilson highlighting the damaging consequences for children arising from the shortage of social housing in London. Focusing on the spaces in which children are sleeping. In a city where extreme poverty and wealth exist side-by-side, Bedrooms of London makes visible the often shocking and unseen reality of home life for the 700,000 children currently living below the poverty line in our capital and challenges the prejudices and stereotypes associated with child poverty. Learn more about this here.
The Duchess of Cambridge was shown the photographs by graduates of the Foundling Museum’s ‘Tracing our Tales’ programme, which has been developed to equip care-experienced young adults from London boroughs with the skills to devise and deliver workshops at the Museum.
Two years later, she met these young adults again to hear how the programme has helped them gain confidence and employment
As the patron of the Museum, The Duchess of Cambridge gave her first-ever speech in Museum. She said, “I’m so passionate about improving children’s life chances and giving them opportunities so that they can look forward to the best possible futures, fulfil their whole potential“.
She also joined them in a creative ‘Tracing our Tales’ training session where participants will be learning how to deliver a creative workshop on block printing techniques.
For the second engagement of the day, The Duchess of Cambridge kept the same outfit sans hat that she wore for the morning visit to King’s college with Her Majesty. She is wearing a grey Catherine Walker coat with a contrast black collar neckline.
She paired the dress with her black Gianvito Rossi Piper 85 suede pumps debuted last week during a visit to the Children’s centre
and carried her Mulberry Bayswater Clutch.
Her Kiki McDonough White Topaz and Diamond Cushion Drop earrings finished the look.
