Kate wears 3D glasses in concentration test during health centre visit

Updated

The Duchess of Cambridge donned a pair of 3D glasses as she tested her powers of concentration during a visit to a leading children's mental health centre.

Brushing her new fringe aside, she slipped on the spectacles as she joined 12-year-old Capone in trying to keep track of a tennis ball jumbled up among a group of others in the NeuroTracker game.

Used by athletes to enhance their performance, it is part of the normal routine for pupils attending a school run by the Anna Freud Centre, a leading charity in research, teaching and the provision of care for children and young people with mental health issues.

The Duchess managed to keep track of her ball, as did the young schoolboy sitting by her side, and she looked a little relieved at the end of the test.

Kate has spent the summer looking after her young family and was carrying out her first solo engagement since the birth of daughter Princess Charlotte in May.

Wearing a Ralph Lauren dress she looked relaxed throughout her visit to the centre and its school both near King's Cross station in central London.

Her tour will have shone a spotlight on the issue of children's mental health and it is understood she wants to play a part in the open discussion around the emotional and mental wellbeing of youngsters.

She is particularly interested in supporting early intervention programmes that tackle complex social issues, especially those that provide support to vulnerable families or children to build their resilience to cope with life's challenges from an early age.

The Duchess met parents and their children when she toured the centre's school, now in its second year, and joined in the fun in the SmartGym and also visited a normal classroom.

Pupils are accompanied by a mother, father or other relative who are on hand to provide a stable point of contact for children who may have issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The interactive area not only featured the NeuroTracker but a cardio wall where pupils are encouraged to hit coloured lights in a given time period, and another similar game that allows parents to play with their children.

Kate tried her hand at this game, joining 12-year-old Kaionel who had taken around the SmartGym, and they took it in turns to wave their hands over the lights as they appeared on a grid in front of them.

She laughed as she tried to reach for the lights but the pair worked well as a team and were told they had not missed any of them.

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