Kate Middleton Makes Speech About Children's Mental Health

Kate Middleton meets a group of young school children.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 19 November 2015

The Duchess of Cambridge famously admitted that she's terrified of public speaking, but she got over it to deliver an important address on children's mental health in London on Wednesday.

The Duchess of Cambridge is at today’s @Place2Be #SchoolConf pic.twitter.com/AbFSWrjWz8November 18, 2015

"I know that I was lucky," she said to a group of school officials at the Place2BE Headteacher Conference. "My parents and teachers provided me with a wonderful and secure childhood where I always knew I was loved, valued, and listened to. But of course many children are not so lucky. Since beginning my work in areas like addiction, for example, I have seen time and time again that the roots of poor mental health in adulthood are almost always present in unresolved childhood challenges. I am sure you will agree that all children deserve time, attention and love from the adults in their lives. These basic qualities are so much more valuable than the always-changing material and social concerns that can seem so important to young people."

The Mirror reports that the speech was her longest to date.

Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.

Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at Marie Claire. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.