We already know that Kate Middleton is a great mom to her three kids, but she's also great with children who aren't her own. On many of her royal engagements, the Duchess of Cambridge interacts with young fans, and she's so good at connecting with them. Part of that certainly stems from her being a mother, and part of it is also just that she's passionate about helping kids and doing whatever she can to improve their lives.
That's why she started her Early Years project, which combined research and a study to see what moms and kids need to ensure a healthy childhood in those first few years of life. As she conducted research, Kate spent a lot of time in various children's centers and speaking with families. And out of those experiences have come so many adorable encounters with her littlest admirers. Here are 15 of our favorites.
Getting On Their Level
Explaining Her Non-Princess Attire
On a trip to Cumbria to visit local farmers, two little girls were disappointed that Kate wasn't in her "Princess Elsa dress." Kate immediately apologized. "I know. I'm sorry. I came in my trousers and my coat because I'm going to see some sheep." Hopefully if she ever visits again, Kate can show up in a proper princess ball gown.
High-Five
You can just tell that Kate has children of her own, because she's so good at bonding with her little fans. This photo was snapped at a children's center that the duchess visited during her research on early childhood. We love that she's doing that parent thing where you pretend that everything your kids do is amazing. Wow, look at that two handed high-five! Such a big girl!
Getting Crafty
Art is one of Kate's big passions (she's a patron of the National Portrait Gallery and she studied art history at university), so a visit to a children's hospital provided the perfect opportunity to combine her love of art and helping kids. She hung out and helped the children while they crafted sets and costumes for a pop-up play.
Sharing Her Passions
The Duchess of Cambridge loves taking photos, and she shared that passion with young fans for World Photography Day with a special workshop. The kids got to meet Kate and take photos with her, and then she even posted some to her Instagram. It was part of her work for the Royal Photographic Society, a patronage that Queen Elizabeth recently passed to Kate.
Exploring the Outdoors
Another one of the duchess' passions is gardening. A couple of years ago, she designed a garden space for the Chelsea Flower Show, and she invited children from her various patronages to come check it out. We love that she didn't just host the event, she really got down on the ground with the kids to show them the different plants.
Adventures in Scouting
Speaking of nature, Kate also frequently does outings with children's scout troops. She's a big believer in providing children with scouting opportunities when they're young to help teach them life skills, teamwork, and leadership. Oh, and opportunities to hang out in forts, because who doesn't love that?
