Children at a Ladbroke Grove primary school were excitedly welcomed the Duchess of Cambridge who officially named an art room today alongside artist Grayson Perry.
The princess was met by an assembly of pupils and a choir at Barlby Primary School, who she clapped along to, as she visited to open a special project which opened in October to give struggling pupils an outlet through art. This was her first official engagement of 2015.
Pupils from nearby Oxford Gardens Primary School also use the Clore Art Room and the hope is that all schools in Kensington and Chelsea, where she lives with William in Kensington Palace, will be able to use it in the future.
A pair of year three youngsters, Frankie Hudson and Je’nane Edwards, presented the Duchess with a chair made in the art room which was covered with stamps used on letters sent to the palace.
Six months into her second pregnancy, she then spoke to eight children who are benefitting from the art room, which was set up by national charity, The Art Room in October, as they showed her their paintings.
One boy, Edis Hoti, in year five, proudly showed the Duchess his painting of a rooster and very sweetly told her she was a chicken to which she laughed and said: “Yes, maybe!”
She was very interested in the work the charity is doing at Barlby, where many children come from deprived homes in North Kensington, and had read a recently published report in the Arts in Psychology journal which evaluated the work the Art Room is doing in schools.
As she spoke to teachers, patrons, three west London headteachers and Dame Vivien Duffield, chair of the Clore Duffield Foundation who helped fund the art room, she said: “All the children here are so articulate. It’s great that two schools are able to work together.”
She was also impressed with the school’s work with autistic children and how they are able to bond with other children by using the Art Room together.
Grayson Perry, patron of The Art Room, was very complimentary about the Duchess and noted how curious she is about art and the benefits of the subject for children.
Mr Perry, who was wearing, what he called his ‘ladies who lunch outfit’, said: “Having Kate come here today and being our royal patron makes everybody feel special which is very important. She knows exactly what supporting us does for the charity and she has the power.”
He added: “Her outfit was very appropriate. She’s looking pretty chic for six months.”
Hundreds of children gave Kate a warm goodbye as they waved flags with her face drawn on to them.
Kate was wearing a navy blue wool A-line dress with a pink patterned tweed trim from maternity label Madderson London for £450, which sold out quickly after the website would not open just minutes after she arrived at the school.
