The Princess of Wales, the patron of the Anna Freud Center, visited the organisation’s London home as part of Mental health awareness week. Mental Health is one of Catheirne’s primary focus and earlier this week she visited Bath to learn about the workings of Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. Anna Freud Center is a child mental health research, training and treatment centre in London and plays a big role in Catherine’s lifelong project – Early Years.
Footage of The Princess of Wales making a visit to the Anna Freud Centre, a child mental health research, training and treatment centre in London pic.twitter.com/DwVioOHsbd
— PA Media (@PA) May 18, 2023
Named after Anna Freud CBE – a British psychoanalyst of Austrian-Jewish descent, the centre has been supporting children across the UK while working to remove the stigma around children’s mental health. The Princess of Wales became the patron of the charity in 2016. This London location was opened by The Princess of Wales in May 2019. The purpose-built centre supports new ways of working so that we can transform mental health provision in the UK by improving the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of treatment.
During the visit, The Princess of Wales joined a roundtable discussion with sector experts, Anna Freud staff and those with lived experience of mental health challenges to discuss how we can support the mental well-being of current and future generations and learn about interactive activities undertaken by secondary school students. Professor Peter Fonagy, Chief Executive of Anna Freud has been a long-standing companion of the Princess’ journey towards Early Years and is part of her Royal Center for Early Childhood advisory group.
“We were delighted to welcome our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, to Anna Freud to mark this very special event during Mental Health Awareness Week and in our own journey” – Professor Peter Fonagy.
Next, Catherine joined a group of secondary school students who had just taken part in a series of classroom activities that explored how they deal with their own anxious feelings. The activity used the newly launched – Let’s Talk about Anxiety, Anna Freud’s new Animation and Teacher toolkit. The toolkit exemplifies Anna Freud’s vision for empowering children and young people with the knowledge, confidence and skills to manage their mental well-being, as well as those who impact their lives – from parents to policymakers, early years workers to teachers, mental health professionals to community-based practitioners.
Delighted to meet with our Royal Patron, HRH The Princess of Wales @KensingtonRoyal today and share more about the cumulative impact of the pandemic and #CostOfLivingCrisis on families, and how we’re making a difference.👶🧒🧑👩👨🧓 pic.twitter.com/dRlrqEwtR0
— Family Action (@family_action) May 17, 2023
Earlier this week, The Princess of Wales also met with the representatives of her other patronage Family Action as part of the week’s activities.
It was an inspiring morning at @AFNCCF this #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
Learn more about their brilliant new ‘Let’s Talk About Anxiety’ toolkit: https://t.co/JY6YvOOjRw pic.twitter.com/p8Hpa46EPF
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 18, 2023
What The Princess of Wales wore to The Anna Freud Center
The Princess of Wales was looking elegant in Suzannah Flippy Wiggle Emerald Dress.
Catherine paired the outfit with her Alessandra Rich Fab Two-Tone Pumps debuted in June 2022 at the Grenfell Tower.
The Princess of Wales finished her look with a new pair of Accessorize Hammered Disc Drop Earrings. Thanks to UfoNoMore and Kate’s closet for the id.