There are just a few weeks to go until the arrival of her second child, but it's business as usual for the Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton. Kensington Palace have confirmed that the pregnant royal will visit Margate in Kent on Wednesday 11 March. In what will be one of her last official outings before she heads off on maternity leave, the 33-year-old royal will undertake two engagements during her time in the seaside town.
The Duchess of Cambridge will visit Margate on 11 March
Art-lover Kate, who is patron of the National Portrait Gallery, will visit the Turner Contemporary art gallery to view a special exhibition titled Self: Image and Identity. Among the pieces on display is the last self-portrait by Sir Anthony Van Dyck, which was recently acquired for Britain by the National Portrait Gallery through a public appeal with The Art Fund - a national fundraising charity that helps museums and galleries to buy and display works of art for everyone to enjoy. It will be the second time that Kate has viewed the portrait; she was given a private viewing at the National Portrait Gallery earlier this month.
The pregnant royal will carry out two engagement in Margate, Kent
After touring the gallery, the pregnant royal will meet with some of the artists whose works are on display in the exhibition. She will also learn about how the gallery engages with the local community through the Clore Learning Studio, where she will be introduced to local school children involved in an art project, before attending a reception to meet staff and supporters of the Turner Contemporary. For her second engagement of the day, Kate will be taken to the Resort Studios in Margate to view an exhibition featuring photomontages of local personalities and meet artists in residence to hear about their work with communities within the area. Kate, who has a degree in history of art from St Andrews University, is passionate about art, and in particular its power to help young people who are facing challenges in their lives.
Duchess Kate is a passionate supporter of art projects
She is patron of The Art Room, which maintains a dedicated art room in a number of schools. Each week up to 85 children, aged between five and 11, receive art sessions designed to provide them with self-confidence, self-esteem and independence through creativity and self-expression. Kate appears to have passed on her love of art to her young son Prince George. At an engagement in Portsmouth earlier this month, the Duchess revealed she had spent the previous day painting with her one-year-old, and said painting was one of George's favourite activities.