Earlier today, the Duchess of Cambridge made an unexpected revelation about her ever expanding family. While chatting to children during an engagement in the morning, she revealed that her children, two year-old Prince George and one year-old Princess Charlotte have a new pet – a hamster called Marvin.
For her first engagement of the day, the Duchess visited the newly built Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace. The play area features a number of historical elements, including a secret grotto, and a 25 feet-long, smoke-breathing dragon, and Catherine was shown around the play area by the garden’s designer, Robert Myers.
During her visit, Her Royal Highness met children from St John the Baptist Junior High School. However, it seemed that not all the young ones knew who the royal guest was, and when one girl asked her whether she was “the Princess”, the Duchess simply replied “Just call me Kate.”
Nine-year old Darcey also had a chance to speak to the Duchess, and was among the first to learn about the Cambridges’ new pet. “She said she had a hamster, and Charlotte really likes it because the whiskers always tickle her face,” Darcey revealed afterwards.
Marvin the hamster is undoubtedly kept at Anmer Hall, the family’s home in Norfolk. He joins Lupo, William and Kate’s black Cocker Spaniel, as a beloved family pet.
The Duchess also jokingly mentioned that her son, Prince George, would be a “bit scared” of the dragon, though he would “love it” all the same.
Next on her packed schedule, the Duchess attended a lunch at the Anna Freud Centre in London. The Duchess of Cambridge is a Patron of the Anna Freud Centre, which helps children facing mental health issues, a cause that Catherine is extremely passionate about.
The lunch was held at Spencer House, the ancestral home of Prince William’s mother Diana, Princess of Wales. During the deception, the Duchess thanked the donors who have so far successfully raised £3.25 million of the £10 million required to build a new mental health centre.
For her final engagement of the day, the Duchess set off to the National Portrait Gallery to look at two images of herself that were taken as a part of the Vogue 100: A Century of Style exhibition.
The photographs in question were one of the Duchess leaning on a wooden gate, and a black-and-white one of her in a hat.
Her Royal Highness was escorted around the gallery by its director, Nicholas Cullinan, and British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman. She met with people from the two organisations – the Gallery and the magazine – who have been working together on a collaboration for the 100th anniversary of British Vogue.
During her visit, the Duchess chatted to photographer Josh Olins. It was Mr Olins who captured the stunning images of the Duchess for the cover of the magazine.
“It doesn’t look like January. You did a very good job,” Catherine said, recalling the shoot that took place in Norfolk this January. “We were very exposed up there as well.”
“It was such a lovely moment, a beautiful end to the day,” she added.