We already know that Kate Middleton is a great mom to her three kids, but she's also great with children who aren't her own. On many of her royal engagements, the Duchess of Cambridge interacts with young fans, and she's so good at connecting with them. Part of that certainly stems from her being a mother, and part of it is also just that she's passionate about helping kids and doing whatever she can to improve their lives.
That's why she started her Early Years project, which combined research and a study to see what moms and kids need to ensure a healthy childhood in those first few years of life. As she conducted research, Kate spent a lot of time in various children's centers and speaking with families. And out of those experiences have come so many adorable encounters with her littlest admirers. Here are 15 of our favorites.
Getting On Their Level
The same thing that made Princess Diana so great at connecting with kids is used by Kate today. It's a simple act — bending down so you're at eye level with the child. It makes them feel seen (literally) and like you're one of them. Kate often employs this method when talking to her youngest fans.
Breach of Protocol
Technically, people aren't supposed to touch members of the royal family, but most of the royals have breached this protocol — especially when it comes to interacting with kids. Sometimes you just have to give an adoring young fan a big hug, like Kate did with this little girl in New Zealand. Such a cute moment.
Explaining Her Non-Princess Attire
On a trip to Cumbria to visit local farmers, two little girls were disappointed that Kate wasn't in her "Princess Elsa dress." Kate immediately apologized. "I know. I'm sorry. I came in my trousers and my coat because I'm going to see some sheep." Hopefully if she ever visits again, Kate can show up in a proper princess ball gown.
High-Five
You can just tell that Kate has children of her own, because she's so good at bonding with her little fans. This photo was snapped at a children's center that the duchess visited during her research on early childhood. We love that she's doing that parent thing where you pretend that everything your kids do is amazing. Wow, look at that two handed high-five! Such a big girl!
Getting Crafty
Art is one of Kate's big passions (she's a patron of the National Portrait Gallery and she studied art history at university), so a visit to a children's hospital provided the perfect opportunity to combine her love of art and helping kids. She hung out and helped the children while they crafted sets and costumes for a pop-up play.
Sharing Her Passions
The Duchess of Cambridge loves taking photos, and she shared that passion with young fans for World Photography Day with a special workshop. The kids got to meet Kate and take photos with her, and then she even posted some to her Instagram. It was part of her work for the Royal Photographic Society, a patronage that Queen Elizabeth recently passed to Kate.
Exploring the Outdoors
Another one of the duchess' passions is gardening. A couple of years ago, she designed a garden space for the Chelsea Flower Show, and she invited children from her various patronages to come check it out. We love that she didn't just host the event, she really got down on the ground with the kids to show them the different plants.
Adventures in Scouting
Speaking of nature, Kate also frequently does outings with children's scout troops. She's a big believer in providing children with scouting opportunities when they're young to help teach them life skills, teamwork, and leadership. Oh, and opportunities to hang out in forts, because who doesn't love that?
Tiaras and Tea
While on a royal visit to Pakistan, Kate threw on a plastic tiara and had tea with a young fan at a local cancer hospital. Princess Diana also visted the same hospital on her trips to the area in 1996 and 1997. Kate and William just helped carry on her legacy of being there for children and people in need.
Holding Hands
When Kate concluded her early childhood study, she posted this throwback photo of some of the time she spent working with kids throughout her research. It's such a sweet picture — Kate being led around by the hand of a small, excited child. The work that the duchess put into the research could be really beneficial in examining how we raise kids in those early years.
So Expressive
One of Kate's first engagements back after lockdown was an event for BBC's Tiny Happy People, which gives resources to parents of young kids. Some children were at the event, and of course the duchess got five times more animated when speaking to them. If she wasn't a princess, she'd be a great kindergarten teacher.
Hanging on the Farm
William and Kate spent the days leading up to their 10th wedding anniversary in April 2021 doing royal work, because it never stops. One of their engagements was at a sustainable farm, where they met some of the animals as well as the children of the local farmers. Sadly, no Elsa dress on this farm visit, either!
Learning a New Skill
Kate tried her hand at a new activity when she visited the Way Youth Zone to see how the organization engages young people with outdoor activities. One of the youngsters was even on hand to help the duchess with her bow and arrow form. And while there, she and William also played soccer, did some gardening, and more. Such a fun day!
Informal Hellos
The duchess was quick to chat with a group of schoolchildren on a recent visit to Orkney. And when one asked if she was the prince, Kate laughed and explained that she was the Duchess of Cambridge. However, she wanted to keep things informal with the kids, so she said they could just call her Catherine. First-name basis with a future queen! That's pretty cool.
Matching Pink Dresses
This story will totally melt your heart. Little 5-year-old Mila dealt with cancer in the midst of lockdown, and Kate called her in 2020 to cheer her up. "Hopefully one day, Mila, we'll get to meet, and then I'll remember to wear my pink dress for you," Kate told her at the time. So, sure enough, when it was safe for Mila to come visit, she and Kate both donned their pink dresses. Yup, we're sobbing.
