"This Campaign Means A Lot To Me Personally": Kate Supports Nursing Now & Two New Patronages!

The Duchess of Cambridge carried out the first of two engagements today, visiting the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London, to learn more about the College’s global health programmes to reduce maternal and newborn mortality worldwide.

Today's engagements coincided with news Kate has taken on two patronages in the field of global health. The Duchess today become Patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), and Patron of the Nursing Now campaign. The Palace added "The Duchess has seen first-hand the impact of front-line medical professionals during visits to hospitals and hospices, and through her work in support of children's mental health and early intervention. The Duchess' patronages at RCOG and Nursing Now provide an opportunity to shine a light on these vital professions, both in the UK and internationally."

It brings Kate's total number of patronages to sixteen.

Kate was welcomed by Professor Lesley Regan, President of the RCOG.

Professor Regan said:

“I am absolutely thrilled that The Duchess of Cambridge has graciously accepted our invitation to become the RCOG’s second Patron, after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. It is a great honour for the College, now in its 89th year, and its 16,000 members in the UK and around the world.

“We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness whose support will help to raise our profile as a medical charity that champions the provision of high quality women’s healthcare at home and beyond. We know that maternal health and mental wellbeing is an issue close to The Duchess’s heart, as a young mother herself. We hope that this new relationship will build on our work to improve healthcare for women everywhere, and ensure that women’s views on the care they receive are at the heart of everything we do.”

Professor Regan met with the Duchess for a roundtable discussion on maternal mental health at Kensington Palace in November.

The College has enjoyed a long standing relationship with the Royal Family.

Before becoming its first Patron, as Duchess of York, Her Royal Highness had, with her husband, the future King George VI, opened the RCOG’s former home on Queen Anne Street in 1932 (pictured below). When the Queen Mother passed in 2002 RCOG said "The College lost one of its original allies. But her commitment to improving maternal wellbeing carries on through her younger relatives." RCOG has awarded an Honorary Fellowship to 10 members of the Royal Family, including Her Majesty The Queen (1949), Princess Margaret (1966), The Princess Royal (1979), Diana, Princess of Wales (1987) and Sophie, The Countess of Wessex (1996).

Kate has a strong interest in maternal mental health and has carried out a number of engagements in the area. Almost a year ago, Kate visited RCOG where she delivered a speech on motherhood at the launch of a series of films focused on maternal mental health. Drawing on her own experiences, the Duchess admitted to a lack of confidence and feelings of ignorance as a mother. "It is full of complex emotions of joy, exhaustion, love, and worry, all mixed together. Your fundamental identity changes overnight.  You go from thinking of yourself as primarily an individual, to suddenly being a mother, first and foremost."

The RCOG works to improve healthcare for women everywhere, by setting standards for clinical practice, providing doctors with training and lifelong learning, and advocating for women’s healthcare worldwide. Founded in 1929, the College now has over 16,000 members worldwide, and works with a range of partners both in the UK and globally to encourage the study of obstetrics and gynaecology and advance its science and practice.

The Royal College launched the results of a survey of over 2300 women about their experiences of mental health problems during and after pregnancy. Key findings included: Women reported experiencing low rates of referral, long waits, regional variation of care, a lack of continuity of care, misunderstanding and stigma. The mental health of women’s partners is also often neglected by healthcare professionals and services. The inforgraphic below shares several of the findings including the fact 23% of those surveyed found their clinicians unapproachable. You can view the full report Maternal Mental Health - Women's Voices here.

Professor Regan showed Kate a painting of The Queen opening the College’s current London home in 1960.

Kate heard about the education and training programmes for doctors wishing to specialise in this field, and how practical examinations fit into the training process.

The Duchess also saw how the College’s workshops and continued training support trainee doctors to develop safe surgical techniques and essential clinical skills in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Kate learned more about the work carried out by the RCOG’s Centre for Women’s Global Health, which supports communities across the world with women’s maternal and gynaecological health, and aims to reduce maternal and newborn fatalities.

Kate was interested to hear about the Leading Safe Choices programme, which operates in South Africa and Tanzania.

More on the Leading Safe Choices programme:

'Expanding contraceptive choice, particularly long-acting reversible methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, and improving access to safe abortion services dramatically improves the health of women and their children. 

The RCOG Leading Safe Choices initiative aims to put the evidence into practice by strengthening the competence and raising the standing of family planning and abortion care professionals. In collaboration with colleagues in South Africa and Tanzania, we will promote best practices in postpartum contraception and comprehensive abortion care (CAC) in South Africa, and comprehensive post-abortion care (CPAC) in Tanzania.'

The Duchess attended a roundtable discussion focused on exploring how the stigma which surrounds women’s health, and in particular maternal mental health, can be challenged.

A great photo of Kate.

Embed from Getty Images

Kate warmly hugged Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, a midwife who assisted with the birth of George and Charlotte. Professor Dunkley-Bent described it as "a surprise and an absolute pleasure" to be reunited with Kate today.

Embed from Getty Images

To mark her first official visit as Patron, the Duchess was presented with a certificate.

More from the Mail Online: 'Presenting Kate with a certificate to mark her patronage, Professor Regan said: 'On behalf of everyone here present, I would like to extend our very best wishes for the birth of your third child. 'I'm confident that you will receive excellent care from the wonderful team at my own hospital, as indeed you received for the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Thank you once again for visiting the college today, becoming our patron and for showing such passionate interest in our work. We look forward to a very long and fruitful relationship with you and your family.'

And a beautiful posy for Kate.

A video from Kensington Palace.

To mark HRH's new patronage, The Duchess is presented with a certificate by Professor Lesley Regan, the President of @RCObsGyn. pic.twitter.com/YFSEjt7c1k

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) February 27, 2018

Kate signed the Royal Visitors' book before leaving. Several photos of other royals signing the same book are framed above. I do love the monarchy's sense of tradition and continuity. With Kate as patron, the link between RCOG and the Royal family remains strong for another generation.

A look at Kate's signature.

The Mail Online reports, when Kate left she thanked Professor Regan adding "It was great to see Jacqui as well".

RCOG tweeted "Thank you to HRH The Duchess of Cambridge for visiting us at the RCOG today and accepting the patronage. We look forward to seeing you again soon!"

Next, The Duchess visited St Thomas' Hospital to officially launch a campaign to promote nursing worldwide.

Kate chatted with a group of nurses upon arrival.

Nursing Now is a major global campaign aimed at raising the profile and status of nursing worldwide, so that nurses can make an even greater contribution at the heart of efforts to tackle rising burdens of disease. As the health professionals closest to the public, nurses are the lynchpin of effective health teams, playing a crucial role in health promotion, disease prevention and treatment. The Nursing Now campaign will support nurses to become leaders so they can play a greater role in health policy decision-making, helping countries meet the pressing health challenges of the 21st century. The campaign will run to the end of 2020 – the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth and a year when nurses will be celebrated worldwide.

Speaking about Kate's patronage, Lord Crisp, Co-Chair Nursing Now Campaign, said:

"On behalf of Nursing Now supporters across the world I am delighted to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cambridge as our Patron. Our campaign aims to improve health globally by raising the profile and status of nurses worldwide – influencing policymakers and supporting nurses themselves to lead, learn and build a global movement. “We are delighted to have a patron with such a strong commitment to nursing and a history in her family of volunteer nurses. We look forward to working with Her Royal Highness as we support nursing and nurses across the world."

The Duchess first visited the Snow Leopard ward at St Thomas's Hospital, where she saw first-hand the expertise and dedication of nurses as they care for children in the Ward.

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at St Thomas’ Hospital to lunch the Nursing Now campaign pic.twitter.com/QhADmb0YCf

— Victoria Murphy (@QueenVicMirror) February 27, 2018

Lauren talked to Kate about the care her one-year-old daughter, Amara, has received on Snow Leopard Ward since January.

The Snow Leopard Ward at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, which is part of St Thomas’, cares for children who need help breathing to stay alive. The nurse-led team train carers and relatives how to use the child’s ventilation equipment to prepare them for going home.

Kate joked William is "in denial" ahead of the arrival of Baby Cambridge.

Kate joined a roundtable discussion with nurses across the career spectrum, from trainees to consultant nurses, and from a range of different countries to find out what it means to be a 21st century nurse and what impact the Nursing Now campaign could have on the profession.

The Duchess joined a launch event in the Main Hall and delivered a speech to mark the launch of the Nursing Now campaign. Kate began the speech on a personal note "This campaign means a lot to me personally. My great-grandmother and grandmother were both volunteer nurses. They would have learned first-hand from working with the Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Red Cross about the care and compassion that sometimes only nurses can provide."

The Telegraph reports

'The Duchess’ own great-grandmother, Olive Middleton, is known to have worked as a nurse, caring for wounded servicemen after the Leeds estate belonging to a cousin was turned into a field hospital.

There, in Gledhow Hall, she is reported to have nursed men severely wounded on the Western front, learning the full horror of war. In 1920, she gave birth to the Duchess’ paternal grandfather Peter Middleton.'

Kate continued: "Your dedication and professionalism are awe-inspiring, I have been struck today by the enormous range of responsibilities that nurses have, not only in providing access to healthcare, but also in terms of providing a holistic approach to caring for our physical and mental health. You also promote good health and disease prevention." Kate added: "Nurses are always there". "I was surprised to learn that to keep pace with the rising global demand the world will need an additional 9 million nurses by 2030. In simple terms, that's about 2,000 nurses every day for the next twelve years".

🎥Watch The Duchess, Patron of @NursingNow2020, make a speech to mark the launch of #NursingNow pic.twitter.com/5FhxUHGWpR

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) February 27, 2018

For those asking about the lady accompanying Kate on a number of engagements lately; her name is Laura Baker and she's Kate's assistant private secretary. She's been at KP for a couple of years working as William's assistant private secretary. Catherine Quinn doesn't accompany Kate on all engagements, so I expect we'll be seeing more of Ms Baker with the Duchess in the future.

The Duchess looked stylish in a gorgeous new blue collarless coat with white piping teamed with a matching blue dress. Both pieces are bespoke creations by one of Kate's favourite designers Jenny Packham.

More from The Telegraph:

'The style of the look she has chosen is; Kate's coordinating royal blue coat and dress seem to offer a nod to the traditional look of a nurse's tunic. The Duchess has become an expert in literal dressing and often uses the strategy in her wardrobe choices.

For today's outing however, during which she is liaising with professors at the RCOG, the Duchess has taken a more straightforward approach, opting for a nearly-navy coat complete with white piping and buttons, layered over a dress in a matching hue with an elasticated empire line to accommodate her growing baby bump, not unlike a nurse's uniform. 

What's more, the ensemble is similar in cut, colour and comes with the same contrast trimmings as the robes worn by the college's professors- a sartorial  tribute to the medical organisation that works to improve health care for women by training and educating doctors and advocating women's healthcare across the world.'

Blue and white are the colours of Nursing Now.

Kate teamed the look with her Jimmy Choo Georgia pumps.

Jimmy Choo

Kate carried her Stuart Weitzman Muse clutch.

Stuart Weitzman

And accessorised with her G Collins & Sons tanzanite pendant and earrings.

A trace of Kate's Henna tattoo remains visible. 

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The Duchess has two particularly interesting engagements tomorrow.

Tomorrow - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will take part in the first annual Royal Foundation Forum. The theme 'Making a Difference Together' will showcase programmes run by the Royal Foundation. William, Kate, Harry and Meghan will appear on stage together to discuss the foundation.

Tomorrow evening, The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the National Portrait Gallery, will visit the exhibition 'Victorian Giants: The Birth of Art Photography'. Forming the Gallery's first Patron's Trail, Kate has selected images from the exhibition for which she has written personal captions that will be displayed alongside the photographs. The Duchess has also written a foreword to the exhibition catalogue.

Kensington Palace also confirmed two events for next week. I suspect suggestions Kate will take her maternity leave after St Patrick's Day are on the money.

6 March - The Duchess of Cambridge will visit Pegasus Primary School in Oxford on 6th March to learn more about the work of the charity Family Links UK. Family Links works to empower children, parents, families, schools and workplaces to prioritise positive emotional health, by delivering innovative, high quality training to health and social care services, third sector organisations, schools and universities. The charity's Nurturing Programme, which underpins all of their work, is designed to provide adults and children with the understanding, skills and ability to lead emotionally healthy lives, build resilience, empathy, self-esteem and support positive relationships.

7 March - The Duchess of Cambridge will officially open the new headquarters of children's mental health charity Place2Be in London. The Duchess will use the visit to learn more about the training provided and research conducted by Place2Be around children's mental health. 

We'll see you for a busy day tomorrow!