Kate Middleton steps out for special cause close to her heart – live updates

 Princess Kate was captured helping the team stock up the Christmas grotto ready for families to come and choose toys for their children.

The Centre for Early Childhood will be encouraging members of the public to donate funds, products, and pre-loved items, or to volunteer their time, to support their local baby banks throughout December.

The cause is very important to Princess Kate’s heart as her Shaping Us campaign explores the importance of our early experiences

Kate was keen to get stuck in and was captured helping the team decorate their special Christmas space for families.

She was joined by Shaping Us champion, Giovanna Fletcher, and together they put on the final touches of Sebby’s Christmas Grotto. It is an incredibly important place where parents who are struggling at this time of year.

With the country in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, the baby bank has seen a year-on-year increase in referrals with midwives, health visitors, and teachers nominating families.

The Princess looked ultra-chic donning a dark brown roll-neck jumping and matching corduroy skirt. As for hair, she wore her chestnut tresses in her classic bouncy blow-dry inspired curls. She also slipped into a pair of elegant black suede boots. To accessorise, the Princess added a waist-cinching brown belt.

Kate heard about the crucial work baby banks do across the UK from Bianca Sakol, Founder of Sebby’s Corner, and Emma Park, Operations Manager, and how they get essential items to families, including clothing, nappies, toiletries, and baby equipment.

Kate donned a warm chestnut-hued coat as she arrived at Sebby’s Corner. There are more than 200 baby banks around the country, all of which are currently seeing rising demand for their services.