How Kate Middleton Created a 'Special Moment' for a Birthday Girl at Latest Royal Outing
- - How Kate Middleton Created a 'Special Moment' for a Birthday Girl at Latest Royal Outing
Janine HenniFebruary 18, 2026 at 1:49 AM
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Kate Middleton at Castle Hill Academy in New Addington, Croydon to mark Children's Mental Health Week 2026 as patron of Place2Be on Feb. 12, 2026 in Croydon, England
Richard Pohle-WPA Pool/Getty
Kate Middleton spread birthday cheer at her latest royal outing
The Princess of Wales personally shared birthday wishes for a young girl at Castle Hill Academy
Princess Kate visited the nursery and primary school with one of her longtime patronages for Children's Mental Health Week
Kate Middleton didn't let a little girl's birthday go unnoticed at her latest engagement.
The Princess of Wales, 44, shared birthday well-wishes for a young girl she met at a school in South London on Feb. 12, a stop she made to commemorate Children's Mental Health Week 2026 as patron of Place2Be, a children's mental health charity in the U.K.
According to Place2Be CEO Catherine Roche, a team member at Castle Hill Academy told Princess Kate that it was one of the children's birthdays and the royal made sure to wish the girl a "happy birthday."
"That was a special moment," Roche told Hello! magazine. "She was so genuine with so many of the children as she walked along."
Kate Middleton at Castle Hill Academy on Feb. 12, 2026.
Richard Pohle-WPA Pool/Getty
The Princess of Wales, who recently celebrated her own birthday in January, visited Castle Hill Academy to mark Children's Mental Health Week. Princess Kate became patron of Place2Be in 2013, and the charity launched Children's Mental Health Week two years later in 2015.
Prince William's wife is nicknamed the Children's Princess for her warm way with kids and seemed to be in her element at the school. There, she checked out its Early Years outdoor play space, met parents who have benefited from Place2Be's support and joined students at work in the Art Studio, where she opened up about her own children.
Hello! reported that Princess Kate spoke about Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, and the different stages they're at while assisting Year 4 students with their artwork. The official art project for Children's Health Week encourages kids to create "belonging maps" and think about the people, places and experiences that help them feel secure.
Kate Middleton at Castle Hill Academy on Feb. 12, 2026.
Richard Pohle-WPA Pool/Getty
"It just shows how relaxed and informal they were. Really, beautifully brilliantly with the children in a really relaxed and natural environment," Roche said.
Kate wrapped her visit to Castle Hill Academy by meeting leadership to discuss Place2Be's Whole School Approach to supporting children’s mental health, plus the unique challenges facing families in New Addington. Place2Be is a longtime partner of the nursery and primary school and endeavors to bring mental health and wellbeing into daily school life, empowering children to develop skills that will help them thrive.
Later in the day, the royal reflected on feeling "so proud" to support Place2Be and her impactful visit to Castle Hill Academy.
This year's Place2Be Children’s Mental Health Week is about the importance of belonging. It can be easy to overlook the importance of the things that matter most; love, care and time spent together. Belonging and connection is so important, and is a fundamental part of early… pic.twitter.com/vbnz11EqLq
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) February 12, 2026
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"This year's Place2Be Children’s Mental Health Week is about the importance of belonging. It can be easy to overlook the importance of the things that matter most: love, care and time spent together," Princess Kate wrote in a personal message shared to X, along with photos from her stop.
"Belonging and connection is so important, and is a fundamental part of early childhood development. As Patron of Place2Be, I am incredibly proud of the work they do to support families and communities to nurture children and young people," she continued and signed the message as "C," shorthand for her first name, Catherine.
The theme of Children's Mental Health Week 2026 is "This is my Place," inspiring children to explore where they feel like they belong and what helps them to feel safe and connected.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
