Kate Middleton: Experts praise Royal for the visit of the Scouts
The Duchess of Cambridge began volunteering for Scouts in 2012, working with the pack of cubs when she lived on Anglesey with Prince William. She has pushed things like flexible volunteering and made a number of commitments over the years before being named co-chair in September. Scouts CEO Matt Heid said there has been a “fantastic engagement” on Kate’s part, before being asked what it’s really like to work with her behind the scenes.
In an interview with Zoe Forsey, Mirror Online features editor for Pod Save the Queen, she said that people resonate with Kate because “what you see is what you get.”
He said that Kate in real life is consistent with what you see in front of the cameras, as is the case with Chief Scout Bear Grylls.
He said that Mr. Grylls has made him do more adventurous things and is enormously encouraging and insists that you “never give up.”
Mr. Heid said: ‘[Kate is] Really consistent with what you see and I think that’s why there are some people in the public eye that have so much resonance with the public and that’s because what you see is what you get.
“We are lucky to have a Chief Scout in Bear Grylls that what you see is exactly what you said.
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Kate, Duchess of Cambridge was compared to Bear Grylls (Image: GETTY)
Kate crouches in a Scout den as the boys test her for raincoat (Image: GETTY)
“I mean, I’ve had times where he’s forced me to do more adventurous things and you’re like you’re on a Running Wild or something and he acts the exact same way, cheering you on and ‘never give up.’ ‘.
“And I think that’s why some people resonate so much with audiences because what you see is what you get.”
He added that Kate is “totally charming” and very good at making people feel comfortable, whether she is a scout leader or a young person.
She said that people are “blown away” but that she is fantastic at asking the right questions and listening.
The Scouts executive director said Kate is “good at engaging people of all ages” and brings out the best in young people and wants to hear their stories.
Kate and Bear at a Scout event in 2013 (Image: GETTY)
He said, “It’s always such an exciting time when you can spend time with her and see how she shines, but she also brings out the best in others.”
Ms. Forsey noted how Kate “gets her hands dirty”, never stands there and watches, gets involved in roasting marshmallows or helping with crafts.
Mr. Heid went on to explain that Kate has helped show the areas that the Scouts have wanted to focus on over the years.
In 2014, they launched a major campaign to extend the outreach of Scouts to underprivileged communities across the country, and Kate visited a pack in an area of deprivation in East London.
He attended the Cubs100, the centennial of cub scouting in 2016, visiting a pack of cubs in Kings Lynn, near the Cambridges’ home in Anmer Hall.
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Duchess of Cambridge speaking to Scouts (Image: GETTY)
In 2019, he attended Scout headquarters in Gilwell Park to explore a pilot project that extends Scouts to four and five year olds.
This, in particular, was in keeping with Kate’s work, as the development area of the early years has become a central part of her actual work.
He recently launched the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood, which aims to get to the heart of the issues that affect children in their most formative years.
Mr. Heid noted that the early years are “very important” for the Duchess and that they try to align what they are passionate about as Scouts and what she cares about, so that the development of the youngest children, along with the mental health and wellness.
Kate Middleton joins Cub and Beaver Scouts for an activity
They then discussed Kate’s visit to a Scout group in Northolt, where she went to thank the volunteers who helped lead the pack during the Zoom pandemic.
Mr. Heid said: “The advantage of volunteering herself is that, not only is she not intimidated by [getting involved with activities] in fact, he really enjoys doing them.
“I know he was saying, even last year, that they had spent so much time with the family, getting outside and lighting fires, so this is something that is really central to his belief and what he is passionate about.
“She has experienced the power of being outdoors for her well-being and the well-being of her family and she wants others to experience it as well.”
Kate toasting marshmallows with Scouts (Image: GETTY)
Kate has spoken passionately about her childhood, enjoying the great outdoors, and how she does the same with her own children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Young royalty are out almost every day, in line with the Scouts’ message of getting young people to have fun outdoors, have adventures and learn life skills.
Kate even created her wooded garden for the Chelsea Flower Show on this theme of providing an outdoor space for children to enjoy and develop.
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