Kate in Copenhagen! Duchess of Cambridge arrives in Denmark for solo visit 

She’s typically the picture of regal refinement. But the Duchess of Cambridge showcased her playful side on a visit to the Lego Foundation Play Lab in Copenhagen this afternoon.

Giggling Kate, 40, whizzed down a winding tube slide instead of taking the stairs, raising her hands in the air as she shot out the bottom.  

Screaming with laughter after emerging from the slide, she joked with the press saying ‘you stood far enough away!’ adding ‘In the spirit of where I am, I had to do it.’

After chatting to parents with their babies at Copenhagen’s Children’s Museum, the duchess confessed she felt ‘broody’ and joked husband William worries about her working with under one-year-olds because she returns home wanting ‘another one’. 

She also joked that her children – Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six and Prince Louis, three, were ‘very jealous’ they weren’t able to come along. 

The duchess clearly enjoyed her visit to the Lego Foundation PlayLab at University College Copenhagen where students training to be early years professionals are encouraged to play.

The Duchess is on a whirlwind two-day solo visit to Denmark to promote her work in early childhood development.

Demonstrating her flair for diplomatic dressing, Kate, 40, stepped out in a £59.99 red Zara blazer and white ruffled blouse – the colours of the Danish flag – for her first day of engagements, which kicked off to a visit to the University of Copenhagen. 

Later she visited the Play Lab to meet students who are training to be early years professionals. 

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The Duchess of Cambridge , 40, opted to go down a slide instead of the stairs on a visit to the Lego Foundation Lab in the Danish capital. Kate giggled as she whizzed down the winding tube slide then shot out the bottom

The Duchess of Cambridge , 40, opted to go down a slide instead of the stairs on a visit to the Lego Foundation Lab in the Danish capital. Kate giggled as she whizzed down the winding tube slide then shot out the bottom

Weee! The Duchess looked delighted as she embraced her fun side and slid down the slide at the Lego play lab

Weee! The Duchess looked delighted as she embraced her fun side and slid down the slide at the Lego play lab

Ready for round two! Kate looked in her element after gracefully landing after sliding down the tunnel at the Lego HQ

Ready for round two! Kate looked in her element after gracefully landing after sliding down the tunnel at the Lego HQ

Nailing the landing! Despite wearing heels and business dress, Kate was ready to embrace the fun at the Lego HQ

Nailing the landing! Despite wearing heels and business dress, Kate was ready to embrace the fun at the Lego HQ

Kate laughs as she comes down a slide during a visit to the LEGO Foundation PlayLab at the Carlsberg Campus, University College Copenhagen

Kate laughs as she comes down a slide during a visit to the LEGO Foundation PlayLab at the Carlsberg Campus, University College Copenhagen

Ready to go! Kate looked delighted to try out the toys as part of her trip to promote Early Childhood Education in Denmark

Ready to go! Kate looked delighted to try out the toys as part of her trip to promote Early Childhood Education in Denmark

Learning from the best! Kate looked intrigued to learn during a visit to the LEGO Foundation PlayLab at the Carlsberg Campus, University College Copenhagen

Learning from the best! Kate looked intrigued to learn during a visit to the LEGO Foundation PlayLab at the Carlsberg Campus, University College Copenhagen

Kate speaks to parents about the program, 'Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project' (CIMPH) 'Understanding Your Baby Project' during a visit to the Children's Museum at Frederiksberg, Copenhagen

Kate speaks to parents about the program, ‘Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project’ (CIMPH) ‘Understanding Your Baby Project’ during a visit to the Children’s Museum at Frederiksberg, Copenhagen

The Duchess of Cambridge waves as she arrives at the University of Copenhagen on Tuesday

The Duchess of Cambridge waves as she arrives at the University of Copenhagen on Tuesday

Kate - herself a mother-of-three - looks in her element meeting babies at the Children's museum in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen

Kate – herself a mother-of-three – looks in her element meeting babies at the Children’s museum in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen

Ready for business! The future Queen sported at red jacket from H&M and sleek black trousers for the day on in Denmark

Ready for business! The future Queen sported at red jacket from H&M and sleek black trousers for the day on in Denmark

Blazing a trail in her £60 Zara 

Kate was flying the flag for the High Street yesterday as she stepped out in a red tweed blazer from Zara.

Following her usual mantra of rewear and repeat, she last wore this wardrobe favourite to the England v Germany game last June. And she loves it so much that she also owns the green version. The Zara blazer, which is no longer available, was £59.99.

With a nod to Chanel, the tweed look is a fail-safe choice. It’s smart yet still feminine, tailored to nip in at the waist. Never one to go over the top, the rest of her look is elegant if undramatic. A ruffle shirt by Me and Em (£85) is the ultimate choice for pared back luxe, as are the beautifully cut black trousers – a similar pair at Jigsaw is £130. She is also wearing her favourite pumps by Gianvito Rossi (£535).

Aspinal’s faux croc leather Mayfair bag (£595) may not hold much – but it’s a label that many successful career girls dangle from their wrists.

She completed her look with a pearl necklace by British designer Monica Vinader (£120). 

Typically polished, the royal finished the look with a pair of black wide-leg trousers, black suede heels and a favourite Aspinal of London handbag. 

The duchess revealed she had spent some of the recent half-term school break playing with Lego with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who were envious when they learnt she would be visiting the Lego Foundation PlayLab.

‘My children are very jealous they weren’t coming to see the Lego Foundation. 

‘They were like, ‘hang on, there’s Lego and we’re not coming?” she said.

At the Children’s Museum, Kate heard about the Understanding Your Baby research project which trains health visitors to help new parents as they begin to notice and interpret their babies’ behavioural cues.

After meeting with two eight-month-old baby boys and their parents, she joked: ‘It makes me very broody. 

‘William always worries about me meeting under one-year-olds. I come home saying, ‘let’s have another one’.’

During the museum visit, Kate praised fathers for taking time off work to ‘get to know’ their babies and she spoke of the universal struggle of parenthood where even the most well-educated can struggle to ask for help.

It is the first time she has taken the work of her foundation, which she launched in June, to the international stage.

The visit will also pay tribute to the historic ties Britain shares with Denmark and celebrate the countries’ joint jubilees – the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Golden Jubilee of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, both of which fall in 2022.  

Effortlessly chic: The royal's brunette locks looked sleek around her shoulders and she added a touch of dark eye makeup

Effortlessly chic: The royal’s brunette locks looked sleek around her shoulders and she added a touch of dark eye makeup

Learning all about it! Kate beamed with joy as she chatted to local mums as she visited the Children's Museum in Frederiksberg

Learning all about it! Kate beamed with joy as she chatted to local mums as she visited the Children’s Museum in Frederiksberg

Kate reacts as she speaks to parents about the program, 'Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project' (CIMPH) 'Understanding Your Baby Project' during a visit to the Children's Museum at Frederiksberg

Kate reacts as she speaks to parents about the program, ‘Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project’ (CIMPH) ‘Understanding Your Baby Project’ during a visit to the Children’s Museum at Frederiksberg

Red-dy for action! Kate looked impeccable during a visit at the LEGO Foundation PlayLab in Copenhagen, Denmark

Red-dy for action! Kate looked impeccable during a visit at the LEGO Foundation PlayLab in Copenhagen, Denmark 

Balls of fun! Kate explored the site including looking at balloons and various toy. She  launched The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in June 2021

Balls of fun! Kate explored the site including looking at balloons and various toy. She  launched The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in June 2021

Kate's centre aims to drive awareness of and action on the extraordinary impact of the early years.

Kate’s centre aims to drive awareness of and action on the extraordinary impact of the early years.

Hands-on as ever, Kate looked delighted as she smiled and got involved with the little ones paintings

Hands-on as ever, Kate looked delighted as she smiled and got involved with the little ones paintings

Duchess of Cambridge visits the Lego Foundation PlayLab on Campus Carlsberg in Copenhagen

Duchess of Cambridge visits the Lego Foundation PlayLab on Campus Carlsberg in Copenhagen

The Duchess of Cambridge wore her brunette locks in a sleek down do and beamed as she arrived for her first event

The Duchess of Cambridge in Copenhagen today

The Duchess of Cambridge wore her brunette locks in a sleek down do and beamed as she arrived for her first event

Kate on a visit to the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project, University of Copenhagen

Duchess of Cambridge today

Kate on a visit to the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project, University of Copenhagen

Kate is on a two-day fact-finding mission to Copenhagen and will meet members of the royal family while in Copenhagen

Kate is on a two-day fact-finding mission to Copenhagen and will meet members of the royal family while in Copenhagen

 

The Duchess of Cambridge looked polished in a red Zara blazer as she kicked off her whirlwind solo visit to Denmark today

The Duchess of Cambridge looked polished in a red Zara blazer as she kicked off her whirlwind solo visit to Denmark today

The Duchess of Cambridge is greeted by Mette Skovgaard Vaever, Director of the Center for Early Intervention and Family Studies, and other scientists as she arrives at the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Program at

The Duchess of Cambridge is greeted by Mette Skovgaard Vaever, Director of the Center for Early Intervention and Family Studies, and other scientists as she arrives at the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Program at 

The Duchess of Cambridge looked radiant as she arrived at the University of Copenhagen for the engagement today

Kate Middleton today

The Duchess of Cambridge looked radiant as she arrived at the University of Copenhagen for the engagement today

The Duchess of Cambridge put her best foot forward in a pair of black suede heels with chunky heels for the engagement

The Duchess of Cambridge put her best foot forward in a pair of black suede heels with chunky heels for the engagement

Kate, who has made early childhood develop a key part of her work as a royal, heard from Danish academics in the field

Kate, who has made early childhood develop a key part of her work as a royal, heard from Danish academics in the field 

The visit to Copenhagen marks the first time she has taken the work of her foundation, which she launched in June, to the international stage

The Duchess of Cambridge at the University of Copenhagen

The visit to Copenhagen marks the first time she has taken the work of her foundation, which she launched in June, to the international stage. Pictured, the Duchess of Cambridge at the University of Copenhagen

Kate takes part in a talk with Mette Skovgaard Vaever, second from right, Director of the Center for Early Intervention and Family Studies, and other scientists, as she visits the Children's Museum

Kate takes part in a talk with Mette Skovgaard Vaever, second from right, Director of the Center for Early Intervention and Family Studies, and other scientists, as she visits the Children’s Museum

Told how even well-educated mothers and fathers struggle with feeling ‘insecure’ about their parenting, she agreed: ‘(There is) the expectation that maybe they should know already.

‘Whereas some of the more disadvantaged families probably have different challenges.’

And later she said certain ‘milestones’ in a baby’s development were favoured over others: ‘There is a lot of talk about feeding and nutrition and physical milestones, but less on the emotional and social milestones.’

The duchess chatted to researchers from the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project (CIMHP), which aims to promote the mental wellbeing of, and relationships between, infants and their parents.

Parents Nikolene and Nicolai Gudomlund told the duchess about a programme delivered by CIMHP psychologists they enrolled on after they became ‘completely panicked’ by their son, now four, not making eye contact when a few months old.

Kate said: ‘There is so much joy and happiness associated with having a newborn baby but actually people don’t necessarily talk about the worry or the anxiety that comes with having a newborn, and particularly if you are noticing things with your own child that you feel you are worried about, and things.’ 

 

During the visit the Duchess will also carry out an engagement with Australian-born Crown Princess Mary, 49. 

The duchess travelled by a scheduled flight to the capital Copenhagen but it is thought her plane was delayed by around 30 minutes.

She made up some time for her first visit to the University of Copenhagen to meet researchers from the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project (CIMHP), which aims to promote the mental wellbeing of, and relationships between, infants and their parents.

The Duchess of Cambridge looked ready for business in a vibrant red blazer, which she previously wore to watch England football team play last summer. 

She wore the jacket over a smart white V-neck blouse with frill detailing. 

Keeping her accessories simple, Kate added a pair of £150 Mother-of-Pearl Drop Huggie Hoop Earrings from Maria Black and a £120 Nura Pearl Necklace by Monica Vinader. 

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is greeted by Rector Henrik C. Wegener at the University of Copenhagen

Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is greeted by Rector Henrik C. Wegener at the University of Copenhagen

Kate is greeted by Mette Skovgaard Vaever, right, Director of the Center for Early Intervention and Family Studies

Kate is greeted by Mette Skovgaard Vaever, right, Director of the Center for Early Intervention and Family Studies

The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured at the University of Copenhagen, is on hand to promote her work in early childhood

The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured at the University of Copenhagen, is on hand to promote her work in early childhood 

The Duchess wore red and white - the colours of the Danish flag - for her first outing in Copenhagen on Tuesday

Kate Middleton today

The Duchess of Cambridge wore red and white – the colours of the Danish flag – for her first outing in Copenhagen on Tuesday

Radiant Kate smiled as she arrived at the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project in Copenhagen today

Radiant Kate smiled as she arrived at the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project in Copenhagen today 

The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at the university to learn more about the world-class work in early childhood development

The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at the university to learn more about the world-class work in early childhood development

The Duchess of Cambridge appeared in excellent spirits and smiled at one of her hosts on arrival

The Duchess of Cambridge appeared in excellent spirits and smiled at one of her hosts on arrival

The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to scientists working in the field of early childhood development in Copenhagen

The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to scientists working in the field of early childhood development in Copenhagen 

The Duchess of Cambridge smiled as she heard more from the experts in the field, which is of great interest to the Duchess

The Duchess of Cambridge smiled as she heard more from the experts in the field, which is of great interest to the Duchess

The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured, is eager to bring her work with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to the global stage

Kate Middleton

The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured, is eager to bring her work with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to the global stage

The royal’s brunette locks looked sleek around her shoulders and she added a touch of dark eye makeup. 

The Duchess heard more about an innovative screening tool, the Alarm Distress Baby Scale, used to help health visitors identify infants at risk of adverse social and emotional development.

The duchess will meet leading researchers running the initiative and will hear from health visitors who are implementing these tools in their work.

Alongside the screening tool, academics have launched the Understanding Your Baby research project which provides further training for health visitors so they can help new parents as they begin to notice and interpret their babies’ behavioural cues. 

Beaming! Kate looked delighted as she arrived in the Scandinavian city wearing a pretty pair of pearl earrings

Beaming! Kate looked delighted as she arrived in the Scandinavian city wearing a pretty pair of pearl earrings

Typically polished, the royal finished the look with a pair of black wide-leg trousers, black suede heels and a favourite Aspinal of London handbag (pictured)

Typically polished, the royal finished the look with a pair of black wide-leg trousers, black suede heels and a favourite Aspinal of London handbag (pictured)

At Copenhagen’s Children’s Museum the duchess will meet a few of the 1,300 first-time parents benefiting from the project, begun in 2019 and ending in July, that involves more than 200 health workers.

Kate’s final event of the day is a trip to the Lego Foundation PlayLab at University College Copenhagen where she will join students, training to be early years professionals, taking part in activities.  

The Duchess of Cambridge will receive an official welcome to Denmark from Queen Margrethe II on the second day of her trip.

The Duchess will also join Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and visit a project supported by the Page 2 of 2 Mary Foundation, founded in 2007 by the Crown Princess, to protect vulnerable women and children from domestic violence. 

Kate and Mary have met on a number of previous occasions, including at Royal Ascot in 2016 and on William and Kate’s joint visit to the Danish capital in 2011. 

The Duchess will also learn about how Denmark promotes infant mental wellbeing alongside physical health, and how it harnesses the power of nature, relationships and playful learning in the first five years of life.

The Duchess of Cambridge looked polished in black trousers, a white shirt and red blouse for the engagement

The Duchess of Cambridge looked polished in black trousers, a white shirt and red blouse for the engagement

The Duchess of Cambridge waved as she arrived for the engagement, the first stop on a busy two-day schedule

Kate Middleton arriving today

The Duchess of Cambridge waved as she arrived for the engagement, the first stop on a busy two-day schedule

Her schedule will focus on innovative initiatives and projects which support children in their growth, particularly their social and emotional development, as well as their parents and the wider communities surrounding them. 

Throughout the visit, The Duchess will have the opportunity to meet with a broad range of people including children and families, leading researchers, representatives from academia, and those working in the early education sector. 

Denmark is a beacon of best practice with its approach to early childhood as well as consistently ranking near the top of countries with the happiest people in the world.  

source: dailymail.co.uk