Kate Middleton is keeping her schedule busy right up until her due date. Kensington Palace announced today that the Duchess of Cambridge, who is due to give birth in April, will visit Margate in Kent on March 11. The visit to the seaside town will mark one of her last official engagements before her maternity leave.
Kate, who hasa degree in history of art fromSt. Andrews University, will have two engagements while in Margate, including avisit to the Turner Contemporary artgallery to view a special exhibition titled Self: Image and Identity. Among thepieces on display is the last self-portrait by Sir Anthony Van Dyck, which was recently acquired for Britain bythe National Portrait Gallery through a national fundraising charity that helpsmuseums and galleries buy and display works of art for everyone to enjoy.
The 33-year-oldroyal will then meet with some of the artists, whose works are on display inthe exhibition, and learn about how the gallery works with the local communitythrough the Clore Learning Studio.
Before moving on to her second engagement, the pregnant Duchess will meet withlocal school children involved in the art project and attend a reception tomeet staff and supporters of the Turner Contemporary.
The art loverwill then make her way to the ResortStudios in Margate to view an exhibition featuring photomontages oflocal personalities and meet artists in residence to hear about their work withcommunities within the area.
This visitsuits Kate, who is a patron of the National Portrait Gallery and of the Art Room,which maintains a dedicated art room in a number of schools. Each week up to 85children receive art lessons designed toprovide them with self-confidence, self-esteem and independence through creativityand self-expression.
The mom ofone seems to have instilled her love of art into her son Prince George. TheDuchess revealed earlier this month that she paints with the young prince andit's one of his favorite activities.