A playground of ecstatic children waving flags awaited the Duchess of Cambridge as she arrived at Oxford's Rose Hill Primary School. The youngsters were gathered to welcome the royal on her visit to see the work carried out by charity, The Art Room, of which she is patron.
Buoyed by the success of her previous solo engagements, Kate looked confident as she chatted and shook hands with well-wishers. And in keeping with the art theme, she showed her talent for diplomatic dressing by donning a coat-dress by Irish designer Orla Kiely, aptly known as the queen of prints.Inside, the school's delighted little charges read Edward Lear's Owl and the Pussycat poem to their VIP guest, and painted a visual representation of the story on a canvas. And Kate, a History of Art graduate, was presented with an apron embroidered with the name Miss Catherine on the front.
The Art Room charity uses creative therapy to raise self esteem and independence amongst disadvantaged children and teenagers.
Its founder and director, Julie Beattie, described it as "one of the smallest charities in the country" and is thrilled that the Kate is helping raise its profile. After her first stop, the Duchess will head to Oxford Spires Academy School where the organisation also has facilites and runs artistic workshops.
