Princess of Wales in Leeds: First pictures as Kate arrives at Kirkgate Market on visit to city
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Kirkgate Market is first location on her tour, which follows a visit to the city by King Charles III back in November. Kate’s time in Leeds is part of work to raise awareness of the new campaign, including through the release of a short film highlighting how babies and children develop in response to their earliest experiences.
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Live updates as Princess of Wales visits Leeds
Key Events
University of Leeds’ Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Simone Buitendijk, said she was delighted the Princess had chosen to launch her new campaign at Leeds.
She said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome the Princess of Wales to the University and take the opportunity to tell her about our incredible early childhood teaching and research. We fully support Shaping Us, which reflects the University’s wider ambition to help create a fairer and more equal society for all.”
The Princess of Wales sat and chatted with eight final year students whose courses focus on childhood studies, as well as the head of programme studies Katie Gathercole (right).
The Princess of Wales departs the Uni of Leeds - concluding visit to the city
Crowds gathered to cheer Kate Middleton as she left the University of Leeds, where she discussed her Shaping Us campaign.
The Princess of Wales arrives at the University of Leeds
Reporter Nathan Hyde, from our sister title the Yorkshire Post, has captured on film the Princess of Wales arriving at the University of Leeds to discuss her new Shaping Us campaign.
The Princess of Wales has been taking pictures with the public at Kirkgate Market
Watch as the Princess of Wales discusses childhood in Leeds
Princess Kate said it is “amazing that Leeds is putting children at the heart of what its doing”, as she talked about the importance of the wider community in the development of a child.
As she ended the discussion and wrapped up her visit at Kirkgate Market, Kate told traders she’d “let them get back to their stalls”, which prompted laughter.
The Princess of Wales discusses her new campaign
Kate Middleton is visiting Kirkgate Market to launch a new campaign that she has described has her “life’s work”. Her Royal Highness is joining a discussion with vendors and local people about their experiences of early childhood, their reflections on the Shaping Us film and what it might mean to them.
Watch Kate Middleton meet traders at Kirkgate Market
The Princess of Wales met the owners of Ada Proctor florists, S.Myers fishmongers and sweet shop owner Joanne Johnson.
The Princess of Wales chats to the owner of Ada Proctor florists
The florists has been based in Kirkgate Market for more than 30 years. The owner, Neil Ashcroft, joked that if the Princess of Wales bought some flowers, he’d give her a discount - and she replied that she’d be sure to give him a tip.
