Excited pupils and teachers from the New North Academy attended a Royal Gala dinner at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton on Monday night, to mark the 25th anniversary of child mental health charity Place2Be.
Pupils from the school choir performed an original piece written especially for the Duchess, produced in collaboration with musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Destiny, a year 5 pupil lucky enough to attend the event, couldn’t contain her excitement at getting to meet the “lovely” Kate.
“I just can’t believe it. I actually got to touch the princess and shake her hand! She was so lovely,” she said.
The school’s headteacher, Nicola Percy, was delighted her school was selected for such an important event, and said the pupils “wowed the Duchess with their skills and confidence to perform”.
Speaking exclusively to Islington Now, the headteacher said: “Our school really values the importance of well-being and we were delighted to contribute and continue to raise the profile of mental well-being at such an auspicious event.
It was an experience that struck real awe and wonder for our children who relished the chance to spend time in the palace and speak with The Duchess of Cambridge,” she added.
The school, located near Essex Road station, was chosen by the Duchess to attend the event as it has been a “very long standing supporter of our charity,” according to Susan Rogers, Head of Communications for Place2Be.
The song, performed shortly before the Duchess addressed her guests, was written and produced to express the pupil’s self-esteem, creativity and wellbeing.
Kate thanked the pupils for their performance, saying: “You’ve written it especially for me tonight? Thank you so much. What a treat for me.”
Starting her speech, Kate added that their performance would be “quite a hard act to follow”.
The New North Academy teamed up with pupils from Solusbury Primary School in Queen’s Park and Cranbrook School in Kent to produce the song. The pupils only had one day to come together and practise before they performed in front of the Duchess.
Speaking at the event, the Duchess of Cambridge said: “You taught me the importance of creating safe and nurturing environments within schools, embracing a holistic view of emotional well-being which permeates through the whole school system.
“You also taught me that it’s the simplest things that make a difference to children. It’s the quality time that is spent with them. It’s the time you take to listen to them. It is trusting relationships that have the most profound impact on the emotional and mental wellbeing of a child.”
The Duchess has been a patron of the mental health charity since 2013, which provides emotional support to pupils in 639 schools across the country. Place2Be was started in 1994 by Dame Benny Refson with the aim of making sure no child faces mental health difficulties alone. The charity has worked with more than 250,000 children and families over the past 25 years.
Children’s mental health has been a priority for Kate for a number of years. Last year she also launched Shout, a free 24/7 text service for young people to reach out to if they are in crisis.
Dame Benny Refson, Founder and President of Place2Be, said at the event:
“Today we need look no further than the dramatic and overwhelming events we are currently facing… the coronavirus, floods, fires and knife crime… bringing an immediate sense of fear, pending loss, grief, and physical and mental trauma. Why would we think a child can live with that fear, pain and anxiety alone?”
