All eyes were on Duchess Catherine, who attended a gala for one her dearest charities – the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (AFNCCF) at Kensington Palace on Tuesday, October 7th.
Attending dinner without Prince William, the pregnant royal looked illuminating in a black lace Diane von Furstenberg Zarita dress that highlighted her growing baby bump.
The mum to Prince George and Princess Charlotte is pregnant with her third child, who is due in April next year.
The 35-year-old showed no sign of slowing down, greeting and chatting to the families who have benefited from the AFNCCF.
Isn’t she radiant?
Kensington Palace shared: “HRH has a continued desire to draw attention to child mental health issues.”
As she mingled across the floor, many royal watchers remember they first saw Duchess Kate in the black frock back in December 2014, when she was pregnant with Charlotte.
Catherine appeared to have well and truly passed her severe morning sickness, which she suffered during the first months of her pregnancy.
The soon-to-be-mum-of-three has been a long time royal patron for the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families. The organisation aims to help those who are battling mental health challenges.
Duchess Kate first wore this dress at the 2014 Royal Variety Show, where she met Harry Styles
Earlier this year she dropped by their Early Years Parenting HQ, where she learned how they aid families with young kids under the age of five.
At the time, the head of the charity Peter Fonagy mused, “She knew exactly what these mums were talking about — about children not sleeping and how stressful it is to try and bring up small children.”
“All the mums said how much she talked to them as just another mum.”
The Duchess of Cambridge is hugely passionate about understanding and highlighting issues with maternal mental health.
Just last week, the royal hosted a private meeting at Kensington Palace to focus on the topic.
The meeting was not formally announced, with the Palace simply sharing a snap from the discussion.
“The Duchess is keen to develop an understanding of the issues surrounding maternal mental health, and to learn what support is available.”
William’s wife met with academics and practitioners from Maternal Mental Health Alliance, Anna Freud Centre, Family Action, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Kings College and Best Beginnings.
The 35-year-old has always been open and honest about her experience with motherhood.
While she has described it as a “rewarding and wonderful experience”, Kate has admitted that there are moments that are can be a “huge challenge”, where she felt a “lack of confidence”.
