Queen of cuddles is back on duty
THE Duchess of Cambridge became cuddly Kate yesterday as the mother of three returned to work after five months of maternity leave. She proved a magnet for children visiting a wildlife garden in west London, sharing hugs with one little girl and crouching in the bushes with others while searching for spiders, frogs and other creatures on a “mini beast hunt”.
Kate told how she goes on spider hunts “for hours” with Prince George, five, and Princess Charlotte, three, as she learned about how Sayers Croft Forest School and Wildlife Garden is helping children’s emotional and physical well-being.
The 36-year-old has been seen in public a handful of times since giving birth to Prince Louis on April 23, but her appearance yesterday marked a formal return to royal duties.
Looking tanned and healthy, Kate was sporting a slightly shorter layered hairstyle.
She wore a £175 khaki jacket by Swedish outdoor brand Fjällräven over a grey-green jumper, completing her casual look with her go-to £475 Penelope Chilvers knee-high boots, which she started wearing more than 10 years ago.
Spider
One little girl, Anwaar, four, from St Stephen’s Church of England School in Westbourne Park, west London, made a beeline for the future Queen, cuddled up to her and then acted the clown with a cup in her mouth, leaving Kate stifling a giggle.
The forest school gives inner city children an opportunity to learn about and engage with the natural world.
Last year it received more than 5,500 visits from schoolchildren across Westminster and neighbouring London boroughs.
The Duchess looked for bugs and creepy crawlies with a group of children who had already found a selection of frogs, toads, woodlice, worms and spiders.
“Who has found a spider?” Kate asked. “Has anyone found a spider? You have – a big one or a little one?’”
“I’m going to find a snake,” one little girl told her.
Sayers Croft Forest School leader, Jennie Miles, enlisted the help of the Duchess when handing out paper for the youngsters to create floral crowns.
Kate helped the children find leaves for their garlands before they gave her a final hug goodbye.
Zoe Stroud, the school’s interim head, said: “She was lovely – although she said the only mini beast she managed to find on the hunt was a slug.
“But she did see a frog under a log. She really gets what we are doing here and said she often takes her children on spider hunts in their garden, which they love. They can spend hours out there. She really understands the value of being outdoors for children.”