The Duchess of Cambridge has joined Prince William and Prince Harry at World Mental Health Day events, marking her first public appearance since the announcement of her third pregnancy.
Kate Middleton, who is once again suffering with an acute form of morning sickness known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum, was forced to miss Prince George's first day of school, and other official royal engagements in the weeks since the news was announced. The last time she was publicly seen was on August 30 when the royals toured the Princess Diana garden ahead of the 20-year anniversary of her death.
But the public got their first glimpse of a visibly pregnant Middleton as she attended a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday to celebrate the efforts of individuals working in mental health.
According to those present, the Duchess, who looked radiant in a baby blue Temperley dress, showed no indication of sickness. The midi-length design with a tie neck and bell sleeves gave a glimpse of her small bump.
"The duchess' condition is improving but she is still suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum. She is delighted to be able to be here tonight," an aide to Middleton said according to Hola!
In his speech Prince William said that he, Middleton and brother Prince Harry are "passionate" about continuing their work in the mental health sector.
"While there is more work to do, the walls of judgment and stigma around mental illness are finally falling. Catherine, Harry and I are proud to stand up in support of this community. All three of us have seen that mental health is at the heart of so many of the issues we are passionate about," he said.
The royals were joined at the reception by leading voices across the mental health sector and celebrities including model Adwoa Aboah and actor Stephen Fry, the of president mental health charity, Mind. Fry, who also spoke to attendees, said of Middleton, "I do understand she's been having this problem more severely than many pregnant mothers and so we're very grateful (she's here.)"
The event was part of the royal trio's Heads Together initiative, which has worked towards raising awareness and campaigning around mental health issues since 2016. Twenty years after Princess Diana's death, the brothers continue to speak candidly on the emotional impact it has had on their lives since childhood. They also announced on Sunday that they have invested the single largest donation, two million pounds ($3.39million) of their Royal Foundation funds in the second phase of their campaign, which is creating online tools to help people combat mental health issues according to ABC News US.
While the couple has not revealed the due date of their third child, and fifth-in-line to the throne, Prince William told a midwife on September 20, that he'd be seeing her "sooner" than she thinks,. However it is speculated that Prince George and Princess Charlotte's sibling will arrive next April.
Apart from her public appearance, the expectant royal was also recently part of a video focusing on children's mental health for her patronage, the Anna Freud National Centre of Children and Families.
In the statement Middleton said, "As parents, we all want our children to have the best possible start in life. Encouraging children to understand and be open about their feelings can give them the skills to cope with the ups and downs that life will throw at them as they grow up. It's important that our children understand that emotions are normal, and that they have the confidence to ask for help if they are struggling."
