Our favorite princess — er, duchess — is a serious badass. Yesterday, after weeks of bed rest due to a vicious form of morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) the former Kate Middletonmade her very first public appearance since her pregnancy was announced on Sept. 4. The event was a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark World Mental Health Day. It highlighted Heads Together, a campaign that seeks to end the stigma of mental illness. The event was also a serious royal bump watch occasion, but everyone on hand was trying to be nonchalant about that — including Kate, who frequently held her black clutch in front of her belly as if to ward off prying glances (sorry, Kate, it just didn’t work).
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Prince William and Prince Harry were also on hand, and they were probably able to eat all the watercress and cream cheese finger sandwiches they wanted without feeling nauseous. Lucky boys. Kensington Palace’s Instagram account featured a few photos from the occasion. You’ll have to squint if you’re looking for a pregnancy belly, though, as Kate’s not showing very much yet.
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Instagram followers tended to focus more on Kate’s belly than the mental health initiative, with comments like, “Oh, poor Catherine. I know that look. I had that look. The holding back sickness look” and “Thumbs up on the initiative but more importantly looking so composed and well with really rough morning sickness!”
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Not only is Kate a champ to crawl out of bed and make it to this important event, she also had to slip out of the palace without Princess Charlotte, 2, or Prince George, 4, attached to her shins or the hem of her blue lace Temperley of London frock. (Best maternity-wear ever?) God save the duchess — and provide her with endless saltines and ginger ale.
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