Kate Middletonhad a very special reason behind her most recent royal request!
Princess Kate, 37, whohosted childrenat the site atHampton Court Palace’s Garden Festivalon Monday, asked that a path of stepping stones be instilled in herplay-and-learn spaceafter her eldest sonPrince Georgeexpressed interest in it, according toHello! Magazine.
“We made the stepping stones becausePrince Georgewanted them,” Jake Catling, the director of the Landscaping Consultants,told the local outlet. “The kids loved jumping across it, and it was down to Kate we got that in.”
But Kate’s 5-year-old son wasn’t her only child to help with the garden. The Duchess of Cambridge also revealed during the day thatPrincess Charlottehad a special hand in helping her find materials for the expanded garden.
Her 4-year-old daughter found pinecones, which Kate hid for the children’s treasure hunt on Monday.
“There are eight, Charlotte helped me find them,” Kate told the kids as they set out to find the pinecones using magnifying glasses.
Kate Middleton.Matt Dunham/AP/Shutterstock
Though George and Charlotte weren’t present at Monday’s outing, the other children certainly appeared to enjoy the benefit of their contributions, as they played outdoors with the royal mom.
Kate’s nature-themed gardendebuted at the Chelsea Flower Showin May, but it has now been expanded for its second location at the palace.
Kate Middleton with children.Shutterstock
Kate Middleton.Shutterstock
The new space is twice the size of the plot that was used at Chelsea to inspire kids to play and enjoy the outdoors for the benefits that it can bring to mental well-being. The expanded garden adds in fun features to stimulate engagement with nature and free play, including a hill, a bee-friendly meadow and a pond to paddle in.
Kate’s garden “highlights how time spent in natural environments can help build the foundations for positive physical and mental wellbeing that last through childhood and over a lifetime,” her office at Kensington Palace said in a statement.
“Features like the hollow log and rustic dens will return from Chelsea, in addition to a new hidden burrow, rolling hill and stream,” the statement continued. “These environments enable children to develop skills for life through free play, building their confidence, strength, resilience and social skills.”
“In addition to the physical and mental health benefits of being in nature, spending quality time with parents and carers outside has a valuable impact on children’s early development,” they added. “In the garden, families can explore together and enjoy nature as a playground.”
Prince George and Princess Charlotte.Matt Porteous/Kensington Palace via Getty
Kate said last month that she wants her children to be outdoors in their garden “rain or shine,” encouraging them to spend time outside whatever the weather, believing “it encourages creativity, confidence.”
“Even a short amount of time — 10 to 15 minutes outside — makes a huge difference to both physical well-being but also to our mental well-being,” she said in a new interview on CBBC’sBlue Peter.
After Hampton Court Palace, the garden will be permanently located in its final place at the RHS garden at Wisley, in the Surrey hills southwest of London, in September.
source: people.com
