The Duchess of Cambridge kicked off her second and final day in
Copenhagen with a visit to Forest Kindergarten.
Kate, who was dressed casually for the occasion, learnt about a
teaching concept where children have lessons outside that focus on their social
and emotional development rather than just on academic skills like numeracy and
literacy.
The Duchess then received an official welcome from Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, alongside her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary, at Christian IX’s Palace in Copenhagen.
The Duchess has travelled to Copenhagen to learn first-hand from
academics and health professionals about their country’s approach to the early years’
development of children that has made it a world leader.
But the two-day visit is also paying tribute to the historic ties
Britain shares with Denmark and celebrates the countries’ joint jubilees – the
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Golden Jubilee of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe
II, both of which fall in 2022.
Kate looked in her element as she took in a number of activities with
the children.
The Duchess has shared her family’s love of the outdoors and often
speaks about its benefits at her royal engagements.
Back in February 2020, she appeared on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast
and when host Giovanna Fletcher prompted the Duchess to complete the sentence, “I’m
happy when…,” Kate replied: “I’m with my family outside in the
countryside and we’re all filthy dirty.”
Kate went on a brief woodland walk with a “wing buddy” where a
youngster pairs up with an older child to gain comfort and support.
She held the hand of a little girl, who also held the hand of Maibritt
Iverson, head of Stenurten, and the trio followed pairs of children as they ran
into the wooded area and emerged a few minutes later.
The royal ladies share a laugh during their audience at the
palace.
Kate and Mary first met during the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit
to Denmark in 2011, and Crown Princess Mary and her husband, Crown Prince
Frederik, also joined William and Kate at Royal Ascot in 2016.
The British and Danish royal families share close ties, with the Queen and Queen Margrethe being third cousins, as they are both
descendants from Queen Victoria and King Christian IX of Denmark.
Queen Margrethe was also among the guests at William and Kate’s royal
wedding in April 2011.
In private, they were introduced to women and children currently living
at the shelter, which was built by Countess Danner in the 18th Century to house
women and children in need. The Countess was born a commoner, Louise Rasmussen,
to a single mother and went on to marry Frederik VII of Denmark.
The building has been used as a domestic abuse shelter since 1980.
In a grand meeting room, Kate and Mary were shown ComfortPacks provided
by Mary’s charity, opening them up to find water bottles, cuddly toys,
pencil cases and notebooks.
Lene Frisch Larsen, a child therapist at the centre, told the royal
visitors: “It’s actually very important for the children to have their own
stuff.”
Explaining that mothers and children often arrive at the centre in the
middle of the night, Mary told Kate: “It started as an idea to ensure
that they had some practical things and some comforting things at the same
time. But we soon realized that it had a much deeper effect than just to give
them a toothbrush – it became a way to start a conversation.”
Danner supports around 60 women a year in the crisis centre and under
Danish law, all municipalities have to provide temporary shelter to women and
children who are suffering domestic violence.
The Duchess heard how mothers coming to the shelter tell their children
it’s a hotel where they are having a break. Older children also receive diaries
so they can write about their experiences.
She asked: “Are they aware of what they’re [the
children] going through and what they are experiencing? Are they aware
that it’s having an impact on their children?”
Lene replied: “A lot of the mums say their child hasn’t seen
anything.”
“But children notice,” nodded Kate, adding: “The older
they are the more they can articulate and explain how they feel.
“Parents I’ve seen in addiction, their children are two or three
who (they think) don’t notice it. But it’s because they don’t have a voice…
But children feel relationships.”
