Kate Middleton spoke about depression and anxiety in motherhood in a new video released today (6th May 2022). The video marks the closing of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. Watch it below:
Here’s a transcript for anybody who can’t press play right now:
The birth of a child is one of life’s greatest gifts. But it can also be one of the most challenging times for many families and one that should not be faced alone.
This Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is about the power and importance of connection.
The past couple of years have reminded us just how much we need each other and how vital our relationships are to our long-term health and happiness.
This starts in the very earliest years of our lives, when we need close and continuous care from the people around us to nurture our development and ensure that we get the right start in life.
But we all know that pregnancy, childbirth and the first months and years of a child’s life can be hugely demanding.
Parents often feel lonely and overwhelmed by these early years.
Around twenty per cent of women in the UK are reported to experience perinatal mental illness.
Sadly, we also know that many more are suffering in silence.
No one is immune to experiencing anxiety and depression during this time.
It is crucial, therefore, that all those who might be struggling are given the right support at the right time, so that they’re able to share these feelings without fear of judgement and can access the information, care and support they need to recover.
Over the last decade, charities and organisations working in this space have come together to transform attitudes, raise awareness and ensure that services are available to parents and babies at this important time in their lives.
Much of this vital work has been led by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, a fantastic organisation of which I am extremely proud to become Patron of today.
There is plenty more to be done.
And it’s down to each and every one of us to support parents and carers, and all those who are raising children today.
Because by ensuring that the next generation of children can thrive, we can help to build a stronger, healthier and more nurturing society which benefits us all.
The Duchess of Cambridge
In the video, Kate announces she’s become Patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) is a UK-wide charity and network of over 100 organisations, dedicated to ensuring women and families affected by perinatal mental health problems have access to high quality, comprehensive perinatal mental health care.
The new patronage is a good fit for the Duchess who has spent the last decade shining the spotlight on mental health through her work. In the years since growing her family, Kate has mainly focussed on early childhood development—a topic closely tied to maternal mental health.
Kate’s outfit:
Kate filmed the video wearing a white dress with a ditsy floral print in blue. It’s the Zaza style by Max Mara Studio. (ID: Middleton Maven)
The floral print dress features a collar and long sleeves with embellished cuffs. The bodice and sleeves of the dress are decorated with hemstitch embroidery. The mid-length skirt is pleated.
Want to buy Kate’s floral dress? You’re in luck. It’s still available at Brown Thomas and on the Max Mara website. RRP: £680 GBP / $1,050 USD (£565 at Brown Thomas).
It looks like Kate wore a pair of pearl earrings with her dress but it’s hard to make out which pair exactly. My best guess is her Annoushka drops (below left). Katie suggests perhaps the Maria Black pearls (below right).
It’s impossible to know for certain. Here’s Kate in the Annoushka earrings:
And the Maria Black:
Kate’s owned the Annoushka Baroque earrings for well over a decade and has racked up well over 60 wears in public. They’re one of her most-worn pairs of earrings.
The Maria Black pearls are a recent addition to Kate’s jewellery box. She debuted them in Copenhagen earlier this year and has worn them on just three occasions in public to date.
This patronage is a slap in the face to every woman who has dealt with mental health issues while pregnant. At best, Kate sat by and watched her SIL suffer with mental health issues during her pregnancy. At worst, she contributed to throes issues. If she had concerns about this issue, why didn’t she do anything then? Why has it taken her more than 3 years to “get involved”? What will she ACTUALLY do now? What steps will she take? What programming will she participate in?
This was a good speech. I like that she included mothers, parents and care givers as those needing support. Her patronage’s surrounding mental health, early childhood education and support for families will be her legacy.
As for fashion, the dress looks like classic “off-duty” Kate. I think she wore something similar at the airport for a family holiday.
Kate’s hair! I like the side part and the soft curl at the ends. Some feel her hair is too long, but I think she should enjoy having this style at age forty.
Is this a “let’s hate on the Duchess of Cambridge” site? I discovered it via Duchess Kate blog and wasn’t expecting the vitriol. With all due respect, I suggest you might allow your readers to define/decide for themselves Catherine’s style. Ditzy is not a word I would use, and it’s disrespectful. Regarding Catherine being responsible for the condition of Meghan’s mental health – she is not a psychologist, psychiatrist, or mental health practitioner. It is truly unfair for that to even be suggested. Harry himself said he told no one, he was embarrassed. Harry is Meghan’s husband and he himself sought therapy so why was he unable to help his own wife? My first visit here and this hate crap is what this blog is about? Is this who you want to be? Is this the blog you wish to put your name to?
I think ditsy/ditzy is quite a common term for a scattered floral print—at least it is in the UK? Certainly no disrespect intended.
Hello!
Nora, if you are referring to the above comment, it is something unusual at this site to read personal comments about Duchess Catherine, and her motives concerning her royal patronages. I have been a frequent reader for years. It is a wonderful fashion site for those of us that enjoy watching Kate’s fashion.
I agree with Carly (the blog author) about the term ditzy print. I have seen this term before to describe this small floral pattern.
Thanks G.A.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have approved Amy’s comment. At the time, I thought everyone is entitled to their opinion and the comment wasn’t too vicious towards Kate. I also don’t want to be accused of censoring people! It’s a hard line to walk.