The Duchess of Cambridge, the patron of the Natural History Museum since 2013, made a surprise visit to the Museum today. The Natural History Museum is both a world-leading science research centre and the most visited natural history museum in Europe. It works to use its global reach and influence to meet its mission to create advocates for the planet – to inform, inspire and empower everyone to make a difference for nature.
About the visit, Kensington Palace said,
As part of her longstanding work on early childhood, the Duchess of Cambridge believes that spending time outdoors plays a pivotal role in children’s future health and happiness, building foundations that last through childhood and over a lifetime.
Looking chic in a pink blazer and blue jeans, The Duchess was visiting to learn more about how communities across the UK will benefit from the Museum’s Urban Nature Project which is being launched later this year. You might remember that The Duchess of Cambridge designed a beautiful ‘Back to Nature’ Garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower show in 2019.
The Museum’s five-acre site in South Kensington is being transformed into a welcoming, accessible and biologically diverse green space in the heart of London to help people rediscover nature and come up with solutions to save wildlife. Catherine was greeted by the Museum Director, Dr Doug Gurr, who explained how the project is helping people to reconnect with the natural world and find the solutions urgently needed to protect the planet’s future.
From Daily Mail’s report,
Speaking about the visit, Dr Doug Gurr said: ‘I’m delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness here today as we share some of the work the Urban Nature Project is doing to engage young people with the nature on their doorsteps.
‘Biodiversity, especially in urban settings, is under threat like never before. To survive, it needs young people to grow up with a desire to protect it. But without feeling excited by and engaged with the green spaces around them, this is in jeopardy. That is why this project is crucial for our urban green spaces and all the species who call it home.’
The visit coincides with the launch today of the Museum’s Annual Review, Solutions for Nature and from Nature which celebrates some of the key Museum partnerships, research and discoveries over the last year.
From influential biodiversity research shared with the government, the 503 new species Museum scientists described in 2020 or the illustrious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards for which Her Royal Highness announced the winner – the annual review highlights how the Museum is making a lasting and positive difference to our global future.
About the project, NHM says, “New outdoor galleries will showcase the Museum’s scientific research and provide a space for the public to learn about the incredible diversity of life on Earth and how our planet has changed over time. Access to the garden will also be improved, with universal step-free routes across the site. The existing Wildlife Garden will be extended to double the area of native habitats within the grounds, providing a fabulous setting for our historic building.
Museum staff will also work with organisations across the UK to inspire the next generation, create new opportunities for young people in cities and help everyone to learn about humanity’s impact on the natural world. An expanded schools programme at the Museum will allow schools to explore the gardens with a focus on building a connection with nature, valuing biodiversity and pro-environmental actions.
Working in partnership with local community groups, a community programme will co-create four-family activities and resources for an onsite family learning programme. This will include self-guided experiences, handling stations, natural crafts and activities contributing to urban biodiversity. All will be delivered to family groups with children aged 6+ and will be an opportunity for families to learn together and from each other about the species that can be commonly found in and around London.
A new volunteer programme will be delivered to diversify volunteer roles and volunteers and to grow the programme. A summer programme for 35 school leavers will also be rolled out. “
The Duchess joined a group of schoolchildren from the local St. Mary of the Angels Primary School to make toy spiders from pine cones and interactive story-telling exercise at the Natural History Museum’s wildlife garden. Catherine, who has been a long-standing champion of the outdoors and nature, visited the museum to encourage people to reconnect with the natural world and help come up with ways to protect the planet’s future.
The Duchess of Cambridge brought along some homemade honey from her country home, Anmer Hall, for the children to try and revealed that at Anmer Hall the family has bees. Rebecca English reported on Twitter, “‘Would you like to try some? This came specially from my beehive. Does it taste like honey from the shops? Does it taste like flowers?” Catherine Asked. From Hello! report,
The Duchess asked the children if they knew where bees got their nectar from, before producing a pot of honey made by her own bees at Anmer Hall.
“Would you like to try some?” she asked. “I’ve got one spoon each. This came specially from my beehive.
“See if it tastes the same as at home. Does it taste like honey from the shops? Does it taste like flowers?”
The Duchess asked the children if they knew how many species of bees there were in this country, telling them: “It’s 350, isn’t that amazing?”
She told them: “Every time you see a bee; say thank you so much because they make delicious honey.”
The Duchess took the honey as a gift for the children because the importance of bees linked to the museum’s project about biodiversity.
She is thought to have chipped in with her family to buy her brother, James Middleton, a colony of 1,000 Buckfast bees as a birthday present when he turned 24.
Earlier, as Kate helped to make the spiders, she told the children: “I’m going to call my spider cuddles.”
Cathrine heard about the plans for the project and the work that is being carried out to transform the Natural History Museum gardens into a cutting-edge research centre. The project includes creating outdoor classrooms and a living lab, to deliver science and learning programmes for young people, schools and families across the country.
At the end of her visit, the Duchess fixed an acoustic monitoring device to a cherry tree in the Wildlife Garden, which will record ambient sound to help museum scientists to investigate patterns of bird, mammal and insect activity within the garden. Data collected by the device, which will stay onsite throughout the summer, will be analysed used as part of the UNP National Schools Programme which launches in September.
For the visit, The Duchess of Cambridge debuted a new blazer. She was wearing a Chloé Wool Long sleeve canvas blazer. Thanks to UfoNoMore for the id.
The $2250 pink Long sleeve wool canvas blazer features a Notched lapel collar, button closure at the front, patch pockets at the chest, an elasticized waistband with flap pockets at the waist. The fully lined blazer has epaulette at shoulders and Rib-knit cuffs.
It seems Catherine is wearing her Lauren Ralph Lauren Nadalia Top that she first wore in September 2020 for the visit to Battersea Park in London.
The Duchess of Cambridge wore & Other Stories Favourite Cut Jeans debuted in May 2021 when she got her first dose of COVID vaccine.
The Duchess of Cambridge brought back her Veja Esplar Metallic Low-Top Trainers that she debuted during Scotland tour last month.
The Duchess accessorised her look with Orelia London Chain Huggie Hoop Earrings
with her Daniella Draper Personalised Gold Midnight Moon Necklace that is personalized with the first letters of her children’s name.
and her Spells of Love Double Strand Beaded Satellite Chain Necklace.
On arrival, Catherine was wearing Amaia Kids Adult Reusable cotton The Duchess Pink Pepper face mask.
The #DuchessofCambridge, patron of @EACH_hospices has sent a letter of support to Children Hospices marking the #childrenshospiceweek
She praised the hard work carried out by the hospices for the families of seriously sick children and reflected on the tough time of pandemic. pic.twitter.com/mFYRtjXjPH
— RegalFille (@RegalFille) June 21, 2021
Yesterday, The Duchess of Cambridge sent a letter of support to Children Hospices to mark the Children Hospices week. Catherine is Patron of East Angelia Children Hospice. In her letter, she thanked the hard work being carried out by the hospices and reflected on the hard time faced by the families with seriously ill children.
👑 The Queen has inspired many artists and designers during her nearly 70-year reign, and now we’re asking you to be inspired too!
If you’re a budding artist or designer aged 13 to 25, based in the UK, we’d like you to design an emblem for HM’s #PlatinumJubilee next year. pic.twitter.com/0IZuke1x3T
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 21, 2021
In other news, The Royal Family have collaborated with the Victoria and Albert Museum for the Platinum Jubilee celebration next year and organized a competition for graphic designers between the age of 13 to 25. The participants are asked to design an emblem for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The winning design will appear on official merchandise, big screens and extensively across our social media channels in 2022. You can find more details about the competition here.
A fun #FathersDay – #PrinceWilliam took #PrinceGeorge and #PrincessCharlotte to the Run Sandringham Half Marathon ahead of his 39th birthdayhttps://t.co/qeRrDATw4F
— RegalFille (@RegalFille) June 20, 2021
And if you missed, on Sunday, Prince William took Prince George and Princess Charlotte to the Run Sandringham Half Marathon.