After seven weeks away, the Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at their first official engagement at the Natural History Museum in London for a cause that’s close to their hearts, with Kate showing off her stunning new look
The Princess of Wales debuted her new blonder locks as helped save a bunch of primary school children from September downpours on a visit to London’s Natural History Museum today.
Kate, who is a patron of the museum, wore a casual shirt and blazer combination for the meeting, and showed off her striking new blonde hair colour as she arrived with Prince William. Pictures first hinted at her new look while she, along with the rest of the royal family, were on holiday in Balmoral last month.
Arriving at the museum today, Kate, patron of the Natural History Museum, said to Dr Sandy Knapp: “Sorry it’s been such a long time for me to come back.” And posed for photos on the steps to the museum before greeting visitors queuing up to get inside – and Kate even gave one over-eager youngster a high-five.
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The royal couple were set to join children taking part in ‘pond dipping’ searching for newts and toads at the Nature Discovery Garden. But seconds after the primary school children from Kender Primary School, New Cross, south London, arrived to join the royal visitors they were soaked in a massive and sudden downpour.
Kate and William shared their umbrellas before calling off the outside activity and ushered the children into the dry at the nearby Nature Activity Centre. The princess led several children while William helped control the rear as the youngsters splashed in puddles as they tried to keep out of the rain.
Beverley Brown, 44, assistant headteacher at Kender Primary School, said: “We had been waiting for the session to start and the children were very excited. As we started to move it started to pour and we didn’t know what to do.
“Prince William gallantly held an umbrella over an adult and children. “Princess Kate was in amongst us and said ‘let them go in’ and ‘lets take them inside, it’s pouring.” The children and Kate and William had to dry off inside the activity centre and the royals took part in a workshop helping the children identify animals encased in blocks and find their regular habitat.
Asked by a teacher for their findings, Kate said the children in her group “decided spiders are everywhere.” William rested his arm on one teacher’s damp shoulders and said: “Are you wet? We got you inside in time.”
Speaking afterwards Beverley added: “It was an amazing experience for children talking to them non stop about mini beasts. Prince William was laughing as some of the children were using them like jenga blocks. “Lots of our families live in quite crowded housing and don’t have access to gardens so to experience all of this at the Natural History Museum is very important for the children.
“We have received a National Education Nature Park Department of Environment grant for £10,000 for our own pond.”
Kate, who had visible rain marks on her green blazer jacket, also joined William learning from pupils and teachers at the Co-op Academy, in Manchester. The school has been creating new habitats on their school grounds through the National Education Nature Park programme. They take part in classes aimed at connect with nature and help boost biodiversity in urban areas.
Sitting down in the activity centre, Kate said: “Sorry we are a bit wet. It was nice and dry and then suddenly within seconds, it was such a lovely day.” William laughed as he added: “But it’s nature, in amongst nature.”
The school has created a vertical garden which has dramatically cooled temperature in a classroom which used to be unbearably warm. William asked about other “dream” plans the school has which could involve garden on roofs or and less tarmac around the site. Three of the pupils told William they wanted to work as marine biologists.
William told them there were still many unknown mysteries of the deep and added: “You three could be the first ones to bring back crazy cool research from down at the bottom.” Speaking afterwards Noah, 14, said he was surprised at how “informal” the visit was.
The gardens and National Education Nature Park programme are part of the Natural History Museum’s ambitious Urban Nature Movement.
They opened in 2024 and also act as a living laboratory, where visitors and scientists can identify and monitor wildlife in an urban environment. The gardens and Nature Park Programme also serve to encourage people to spend more time in nature through hands-on activities and by highlighting the accessibility of nature in urban settings.
Since opening in July last year they have welcomed over five million visitors, with the Nature Discovery Garden area found to have inspired 92 per cent of overall visitors and 72 per cent of visitors aged 16-24 to spend more time in nature. Visitors to the gardens have also reported feelings of enhanced wellbeing though spending more time in the gardens.
Both The Prince and Princess are passionate about the power of spending time in nature. The Princess is currently spearheading a project, ‘Mother Nature’, which highlights humanity’s longstanding connection to nature, as well as nature’s capacity to inspire us, through a series of films celebrating the changing seasons across the UK.
The summer episode of the Mother Nature films was released last month, while she also urged society to “reconnect to nature and celebrate a new dawn within our hearts” in a voiceover for Spring.
In 2019, Her Royal Highness launched the ‘Back to Nature’ garden at the Chelsea Flower Show to spotlight the power of nature in enriching early childhood development.
The Princess has also had a long-time relationship with the Scouts which focuses on enabling children and young people to experience the outdoors and natural world. A spokesman for Kate has been approached for comment about her new hair colour.
