After attending the ‘Mental Health in Education’ Conference earlier in the day, tonight The Duchess of Cambridge attended a gala dinner hosted by 100 Women in Finance at Victoria and Albert Museum in London in aid of Mentally Healthy Schools. The Duchess of Cambridge is the patron of the initiative with The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry since January 2013.
The moment The Duchess stepped out of the car, we all go awed. It was a fairy tale moment as Catherine was looking a perfect Princess tonight.
100 Women in Finance, previously known as 100 Women in Hedge Funds, is a global not for profit association which aims to empower women in the industry through educational, peer engagement and philanthropic initiatives. As part of their UK philanthropic efforts, since 2010, 100WF has worked with the Charities Forum of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to support one of the Forum’s charities each year. Learn more about the 100WF here.
The Duchess of Cambridge is in a Gucci dress tonight for a 100 Women in Finance gala dinner raising money for mental health initiatives in schools. pic.twitter.com/XIyk0aavSB
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) February 13, 2019
A video of The Duchess’ arrival at Museum.
Catherine was welcomed by the Victoria and Albert Museum representatives, another patronage of Duchess.
Ahead of the Gala, The Duchess attended a private reception before making a short speech ahead of the dinner.
Launched by The Duchess at the beginning of 2018, ‘Mentally Healthy Schools’ is one of the legacy programmes from the Heads Together campaign, which aims to help people of all ages start conversations about their mental health. The landmark project, run by The Royal Foundation, helps teachers and school leaders better support children’s mental wellbeing, by offering school staff reliable and practical resources through a website developed by the youth-focused charity partners of Heads Together; the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, Place2Be and Young Minds.
WATCH: The #DuchessofCambridge makes her entrance into the Raphael Gallery for the dinner with Amanda Pullinger. Taking no risks in heels and sensibly holding onto the handrail! #100wf #MentallyHealthySchools pic.twitter.com/LmdetuPY3m
— Emily Nash (@emynash) February 13, 2019
The Duchess of Cambridge made a grand entrance to the Dinner Hall.
From Simon Perry’s Story on People:
Ed Vainker, co-founder and Principal of the Reach Academy in Feltham, told guests about the impact mental health charities are having in schools. “The focus that the Duchess has had on this and on the mental health agenda has really helped schools, parents and young people to destigmatize it and talk about it,” he said. “She visited my school a year ago and spent three or four hours in the school…hearing about the challenges young people face. She’s obviously really personally interested in it, she builds relationships really easily and she had a huge impact in a short time when she came to see us.”
Speaking at the Gala The Duchess of Cambridge said, “The first few years of a child’s life are more pivotal for social, physical and emotional development, and for future health and happiness than any single moment in our lifetime.”
From the Mail Online Story:
Your vision is hugely inspiring and testament to what school, teachers, parents and communities can achieve when they all work together.’ She added that she had often been asked why she had decided to focus her work on the early years and said that many adult problems can be traced back to the first years of life.
‘I have often been asked why I have decided to focus my work on the early years. Having been lucky enough to meet some of our country’s amazing charities and organisations, tackling some of our hardest social challenges, I became acutely aware just how important the earliest years of our lives really are.
‘The root cause of some of our most challenging experiences in adulthood, such as poor mental and physical health, addiction, homelessness, crime and family breakdown, can so often be traced back to the very earliest years of someone’s life and often over generations.
‘We therefore need to look at the prevention of some of these issues, before they take hold and become a problem. The evidence is clear that from birth, the first few years of a child’s life are more pivotal for social, physical and emotional development and for future health and happiness than any other single moment in a lifetime.
In my early years work I am looking at how best we can support parents and families, however we must remember that teachers, school leaders and school staff also play a vital role in shaping who our children become and how they develop. It is therefore critical that we support them so that they can provide the best level of care for all children in their schools and communities
The mentally healthy schools programme is the first of its kind and aims to help all children, all teachers in all primary schools across the UK.
For tonight’s gala dinner, The Duchess of Cambridge chose a very stunning gown from a label that none of us was expecting – Gucci. The bespoke gown has romantic and Princess vibes to it given we are in Valentine’s week. The blush pink gown has a contrast of different shades of pink to it.
The slightly off-shoulder gown has sash on the intricately ruched bodice with a sweeping skirt in layers of pleated tulle. A closer look at the gown.
Catherine highlighted the waistline of the gown with a contrast burgundy waistband.
She paired the beautiful gown with some old elements from her extensive wardrobe. She was wearing her Oscar de la Renta Lame Cabrina Pumps that she first wore in 2017 at UK-India Cultural Event held in Buckingham Palace.
Catherine was carrying her Prada Burgundy Velvet Clutch that we first saw at the wedding of Princess Eugenie in October 2018.
The Duchess of Cambridge finished her look with Kiki Morganite Double Drop Earrings that she first wore at the wedding of her sister Pippa Middleton in May 2017.
Before this, The Duchess has attended 3 100WF Gala dinners. First in October 2011 at St James’ Palace in aid of Prince William’s patronage Child Bereavement UK.
Next, she attended a gala dinner in aid of Action on Addiction in October 2013 hosted at Kensington Palace.
The Last 100WF gala dinner she attended was in October 2015 in aid of Catherine’s patronage The Art Room hosted at Victoria and Albert Museum.
Here a look back at The Duchess of Cambridge’s previous outfits for the same occasion. In 2011 She wore Beulah London Sarai Gown in 2013 she was wearing a bespoke Jenny Packham Ink Blue Silk Tulle Gown and in 2015 she dazzled in elegant Erdem Alouette Printed Silk-Gazar Gown.
This week The Duchess of Cambridge has given us two fairy tale moments in two different but the stunning gown. You all must remember this exquisite number she wore at BAFTA this Sunday night.