This post was updated on December 28, 2019.
Kate Middleton spent two days working on a a top-secret project—and now we finally know what she's been up to.
According to People, the Duchess of Cambridge quietly got some work experience at a maternity ward in one of London's major hospitals this week, where she reportedly shadowed midwives and other professionals to better educate herself about the early years of childhood development.
Sources also told Hello! magazine that the royal mom of three "divided her time on the unit, visiting the antenatal, postnatal, and labor wards."
The work was subtly mentioned by Kensington Palace in the Court Circular on November 28, which reveals the activities the royals have completed each week:
"The Duchess of Cambridge, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, today completed two days with Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit in London."
At the time, no other details were released, but on December 27 the Palace released photos of Middleton over the course of her secret visit.
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Kensington Palace also released the touching letter the royal mom of three wrote to the midwives thanking them for their hard work, as well as describing the work she did and the importance it had to her early-years project.
"During my time at Kingston I accompanied community midwives on their daily rounds and was welcomed into people's homes. I was truly touched by the trust that people placed in me, sharing their experiences and voicing their fears openly," she began.
"I also spent time in hospital clinics and on post-natal wards," Middleton continued. "No matter the setting, I was continually struck by the compassion that those of you I spent time with showed, and the incredible work ethic you demonstrated on behalf of your entire profession—not only performing your rounds but working tirelessly through the night to support people that were at their most vulnerable."
"So as we look ahead to next year, I want to thank you for all that you do," she concluded. "It has been a real privilege learning from you so far, and I look forward to meeting and learning from even more of you in the coming years and decades."
You can read Middleton's full letter here.
It comes as no surprise that the duchess wanted to lend a helping hand at the hospital's maternity ward since early childhood care is something. Middleton has devoted a lot of her royal work to over the years. In May, she organized a group to learn about child welfare so that she could be more aware of the challenges both parents and caregivers deal with every day. She also later thanked them for their work, support, and advice.
“Through our work, you have reaffirmed my belief of just how timely it is to focus on what happens in the early years of life, and how pivotal a stage of life this is for a child’s future,” Middleton said at the time.
“I hope my long-term commitment to working in the early years will help make a difference over a generational timescale,” she added. “Your thoughts and advice will continue to be hugely valuable as I shape my thinking for the years ahead.”
In November, Middleton opened a new children's hospice, as part of her Early Years project. She also spent time with the young patients who have life-threatening conditions.
