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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jennifer Newton

Kate Middleton steps out with Princess Anne for their first-ever joint royal engagement

The Duchess of Cambridge has stepped out with Princess Anne for the pair's first-ever official engagement together.

It was a rare double outing for the royal women, who have only ever been pictured together before at family events.

Kate arrived wearing an oatmeal-coloured suit from the brand Self Portrait, which she paired with a bag and shoes of the same colour. Anne opted for an all teal outfit.

Anne is patron of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) while Kate is patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

The building they visited is home to a collection of women’s healthcare organisations and the hub has been designed by the RCOG to foster collaboration across the sector.

Kate and Princess Anne visited the London headquarters of the Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (PA)
Kate is patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (REUTERS)

When the princess and duchess arrived they were welcomed by RCM chief executive Gill Walton and RCOG president Dr Edward Morris.

They also met representatives from Tommy’s National Centre for Maternity Improvement and learned about the innovative digital tools that are being developed to identify and support women with higher-risk pregnancies.

Kate opted for an outfit by Self Portrait (Getty Images)
Kate waved to wellwishers as she and Anne arrived for their joint engagement (Getty Images)

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During the visit, Anne and Kate also took part in a roundtable discussion which brought together sector experts, and new mothers, to discuss the measures being taken to tackle inequalities in maternity care.

The pair met staff at the RCM and the RCOG (PA)
The pair watch a demonstration of a mock emergency caesarian operation by Dr Katie Cornthwaite using a dummy (PA)

There have been a number of serious issues affecting the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies.

The independent Ockenden inquiry into the UK’s biggest maternity scandal found Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust presided over catastrophic failings for 20 years and the findings published in March are the latest in a series of similar reports in recent years.

In February, the Government launched a Maternity Disparities Taskforce to examine the reasons why women and their babies from ethnic minority communities and those from poorer neighbourhoods have worse outcomes.

The royals accepted flowers as they left the venue (SplashNews.com)

The announcement came on the same day the Royal College of Midwives called ministers to scrap charges for migrant women, saying that many put off seeking care because they cannot pay for it.

A series of demonstrations staged by March with Midwives was held in November with organisers calling on politicians to listen to all staff and the people who use maternity services, to fund the emergency retention of staff, to support student training and reduce demands on workers.

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