SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH THE PRINCESS OF WALES ADMITS TO 'STILL LEARNING EVERY DAY' ABOUT BEING ROYAL AND FITTING IN

To the outside world, she is the epitome of poised perfection, but the Princess of Wales has revealed she initially struggled to fit into royal life and admitted she is “still learning every day”.

- TRACY SCHAVERIEN

Kate opened up about becoming a Princess when she chatted to schoolgirls during a visit to a charity run by Dame Kelly Holmes, telling the youngsters she had never thought about it until she fell in love with her husband.

FITTING IN

“They were asking her about being a royal – was it something she wanted to do? And she said she had to learn,” former middle-distance runner Dame Kelly said later. “It’s a struggle to know that you can be accepted and fit in, and you are still learning every day.

“Doing public speaking isn’t natural for lots of people, is it? She was saying that she’s still working that out, but has to project,” Kelly added. “So, again, she humanised everything. Not everyone is perfect.”

The 41-year-old Princess was at the Percy Community Centre in Bath to see the work of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, which uses sports stars to mentor young people to find the skills and confidence they need to succeed in education, work and life. The double Olympic champion set up the charity in 2008.

CLOSE CONTEST

Kate stepped out in a sunny yellow LK Bennett jacket, white Alexander McQueen trousers, white H&M top and white metallic trainers from ethical brand Veja at the first of two official engagements to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.

In an icebreaker exercise, the two women each led a team of girls from St Katherine’s School in Bristol in a game of giant noughts and crosses, using beanbags, which ended with Kelly, 53, claiming victory.