Catherine Visits The Willows Primary School

The Duchess of Cambridge visited the Willows Primary School Wythenshawe, Manchester to launch a new charity initiative involving her new patronage Place2Be today.

She did a short walkabout upon arrival and was presented with a dog hamper for her cocker spaniel Lupo from "school dog" Henry, headteacher Anne Whitehead's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Catherine thanked the adorable dog saying "Henry, you have gone to so much trouble."

The Willows Primary School has long been regarded as one of the city's most successful primaries, overcoming high local unemployment rates and poverty to be ranked as outstanding. Catherine is not the first royal to visit the area which is home to 66,000 people. In 2009, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, spent ten days in the estate as part of an ITV Documentary 'The Duchess on the Estate'. Those of you from the UK will recognise the area as the backdrop to Channel 4's 'Shameless'.

Catherine traveled from London to Manchester by train. Here is a photo of her leaving Wilmslow station in a pale pink coat worn to a March wedding.

The royal enjoyed chatting with the students.

The Duchess also planted a willow tree with comedian John Bishop

Staff at the primary school and the local community have come together in a heroic effort to clean up the Junior Playground after arsonists attacked the school just hours after Kate's visit was announced. Three thirteen-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of arson following the fire. Undeterred, head teacher Anne Whitehead said:

'We were devastated when we heard about the fire, but we're not going to let them beat us.'

The people of Wythenshawe showed tremendous community spirit in their efforts to get the playground cleaned up before today's royal visit and have launched a campaign in the hopes of raising £45,000 to restore their beloved adventure playground Fort Henry. 

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The Duchess launched the M-Pact scheme designed to help families affected by alcohol and substance abuse, a partnership between the Royal Foundation, Comic Relief and two of Catherine's patronages, Place2Be and Action on Addiction. The new program combines Place2Be's in-school counselling for children and parents with the expertise of Action on Addiction's 'Moving Parents and Children Together' program.

Catherine delivered a short speech that you can view here.

The Duchess wore the stunning Erdem Sophia Visconti-Bloom Dress. The navy-blue, burgundy, white, blue and pink Visconti-bloom silk-crepe dress has a square-neckline and sheer half-sleeves. The fitted dress has a hidden zip and a small back hem slit. She looks lovely in Erdem and it's a very flattering piece for her at this stage of her pregnancy. Perfect for Spring! The dress is available for €1248 at Matches. It's also available Neiman Marcus and Net-a-Porter.

A closer look at the pattern reveals the bright, colorful colors. 

The dress is described as:

'For flawless, ladylike dressing, look no further than fashion darling Erdem. The label's signature Visconti-blooms work their way across a demure, fitted shift. Unashamedly feminine, work this dress as an elegant alternative to the LBD'.

The Duchess teamed her dress with her navy Prada shoes and her £245 Russell and Bromley Muse Clutch.

She completed the ensemble with her Annoushka pearl earrings and her Asprey Button Pendant.