Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, looked sensational as she stepped out on Monday night in a magenta outfit by designer Oscar de la Renta. The 34-year-old royal chose the luxury brand’s peplum jacket and matching skirt for the Guild of Health Writers event which she attended with husband, Prince William. The duo arrived at Chandos House in the chilly London weather, delighting onlookers who had gathered for a glimpse of the royal style icon.
But while Kate’s style stole headlines, there was a very serious message at the heart of the conference, which is being supported by the Heads Together initiative - the campaign spearheaded by Kate, William and Prince Harry. A number of guest speakers spoke at the Anxiety Epidemic conference, including Mind chief executive Paul Farmer, and Prince William himself.
Addressing the audience, Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s dad explained his mission was to normalise the subject of adult mental health and face head on the “appalling stain on our society” that suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 40. In the past, said the Prince, “if you were anxious, it's because you were weak. If you couldn't cope with whatever life threw at you, it's because you were failing. Successful, strong people don't suffer like that, do they? But of course – we all do. It's just that few of us speak about it,” he added.
“The suicide rate among young men in this country is an appalling stain on our society,” the royal went on. “Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 40 in this country. Not cancer, not knife crime, not road deaths – suicide. If one of these other issues took so many young lives, there would be a national outcry. But there has only ever been silence. And this has to stop. This silence is killing good people.”
GALLERY: The royals melt hearts meeting children
The Duke and Duchess, together with Prince Harry, launched the Heads Together campaign unite a host of British mental health charities, in an attempt to remove the stigma. By sponsoring the 2017 London Marathon, the royal trio hope it will become known as the “mental health marathon”. On Sunday, the three young royals put their running training to the test when they raced one another at London’s Olympic park.