Catherine, Princess of Wales, stuns in pink on royal visit to meet with carers of foster children

The Princess of Wales has stepped out in a striking Alexander McQueen suit for two engagements in support of her early years campaign.

The Princess of Wales is carrying out engagements in London to highlight the effects of nurturing relationships in early childhood. Picture: Eddie Mulholland / Getty.

Britain’s Princess Catherine has charmed guests at the London branch of the Kinship charity – which aims to provide support to families who have had to raise the child of a relative or friend.

The 41-year-old royal – who shares Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and five-year-old Prince Louis, with her husband, William, Prince of Wales, wore a stunning pink Alexander McQueen suit for two engagements in support of her early years campaign on Thursday.

She visited the Foundling Museum to meet foster parents and others who have experienced the care system, before attending a support group session run by the charity Kinship to hear from people who have raised the child of a relative or friend.

The Princess of Wales is carrying out engagements in London to highlight the effects of nurturing relationships in early childhood. Picture: Eddie Mulholland / Getty.

Kinship care is when a child is looked after by their extended family or close friends if they cannot remain in the care of their birth parents.

There are more than 162,000 children being raised in kinship care in the UK, which is more than double the number in foster care, the Telegraph reports.

The Princess of Wales also sat with children on a playdate in Saint Pancras Community Association in Camden, North London, and listened to stories from young people who have left the care system.

She attended the two engagements with the British rapper and TV star Stephen Manderson - best known as Professor Green – who is part of her Shaping Us early years campaign, which was launched earlier this year

Every day @FoundlingMuseum's ground-breaking work supports care-experienced young people to fundamentally change the future direction of their lives.

All the support and care we can offer those who have faced real difficulties early in life has such a positive impact on… pic.twitter.com/49VxuyTND8

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 25, 2023

An exciting day as we welcomed HRH The Princess of Wales for her third visit to the Museum as our Patron. HRH met with care-experienced young people, as well as individuals with experience of fostering and adoption, to understand their journeys. @[e-mail]/37P2Kc01SA

— Foundling Museum (@FoundlingMuseum) May 25, 2023

The TV star also brought his grandmother, “Nanny Pat”, who raised him, to one of the events where the group was seen discussing their experiences of bringing up a grandchild and what support had been available to them.

The Princess of Wales was also seen chatting with aunts, uncles and grandparents who have found solace in the UK’s leading kinship charity.

Kinship’s chief executive Dr Lucy Peake said: “Her Royal Highness’ visit shines a spotlight on kinship carers, who, for many years, have felt invisible and forgotten in our communities, but who play a vital role in raising the nation’s children, in loving and stable homes. Kinship carers face unique challenges, often welcoming children into their homes with very little notice.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a visit to Enniskillen Castle, Co Fermanagh as part of a two day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture: Getty Images

Britain's King Charles III reacts as he meets boaters on the by the River Erne, during a visit to Enniskillen Castle. Picture: AFP

“As they step up and make huge sacrifices to put the children they love first, it is so important that we give them all the support their families need. We are especially thrilled that The Princess was able to attend a Kinship peer support group, as our research shows that peer support groups give kinship carers access to emotional support, practical advice from others and a sense of belonging and community.”

Kinship supports more than 10,000 carers in England and Wales each year through facilities such as free training sessions peer support groups, an expert advice line and their online information and support hub.

Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camilla made their first official visit outside England since their coronation earlier this month.

The couple went on a two-day trip to Northern Ireland, marking King Charles’s 41st visit as prince and king.

On Thursday afternoon, they spent an hour at Enniskillen Castle where they met community groups and were entertained by Irish and Ulster-Scots dancers.

Crowds of well wishers cheered as Charles and Camilla approached the 16th century castle.

Originally published as Catherine, Princess of Wales, stuns in pink on royal visit to meet with carers of foster children