Kate Middleton Chooses Arts, Addiction Charities To Champion

LONDON -- She's married into the royal family, and now the former Kate Middleton is moving to define her new role by choosing the charities she will support.

The Duchess of Cambridge has accepted honorary positions with charities that deal with a range of issues, including tackling drug addiction and helping young people, St. James's Palace said Thursday.

The palace said the positions reflect her "personal interests in the arts, the promotion of outdoor activity, and supporting people who are in need of all ages, especially young children."

The royal, who married Prince William in a gala ceremony last year, became a patron of Action on Addiction and the National Portrait Gallery. She has also become a royal patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices and The Art Room, and a volunteer with the Scout Association.

Patronage raises the profile of the charities the royals support – bringing attention to their causes. It is also considered important to the members of the royal family, because their support shows their commitment to worthy causes.

"The duchess has chosen to support organizations that complement the charitable work already undertaken by her husband," the palace said in a statement.

The late Princess Diana, mother to Prince William, was active in supporting numerous charities, and worked with organizations to help AIDS patients and remove land mines from conflict zones.

The duchess' list includes The Art Room, which uses art to help children increase their self-esteem, self-confidence and independence. The world renowned National Portrait Gallery promotes an appreciation of portraiture in all forms, and maintains a vigorous outreach program.

The duchess, a former Brownie, also chose to volunteer for the scouts, who offer activities for over 400,000 young men and young women in Britain.

The duchess is already a patron of the charitable foundation Prince William founded with his brother, Prince Harry.

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Comments

[peacekitten]

06:46 PM on 01/09/2012

she has chosen well, but i hope that in the future, she might find time to add at least one or two charities benefiting those who have no voice, and are the most vulnerable to man's whims. she's just getting started, though, and has time to consider more, as i'm sure she will.

[f1nesse101]

10:14 PM on 01/05/2012

What's wrong with just being a wife and taking care of her husband for awhile? I'm sure grandma has everything planned out so she can control one more woman married to one of her own. British royals really get under my skin. All they do is suck off society and parade around in custom made Rolls Royce, matching hats and umbrellas, and go to one of their 'seasonal' castles with hundreds of employees. It is sickening makes me just want to puke. Edward, the Duke of Windsor was the only one who had a conscience and understood the gross indulgence of his family.

[lvdkeyes]

02:15 AM on 01/06/2012

Edward was pro Hitler. Would you want to say that is having a conscience?

[mikaerin]

02:17 AM on 01/06/2012

no they don't idiot They are constantly working with charities Prince Charles has an entire mansion filled with people working daily on his charities Lots of work done all around the world

[hattie54]

08:48 PM on 01/05/2012

Diana would be so proud of William and Kate.

[motherbird2]

05:09 AM on 01/06/2012

Yes but lets get offf of Diana as she has been dead for nearly 15 years. We have a new Princess, who I am sure does not want to walk in Diana,s shadow, but be herself in her new role. I certainlly would not have wanted Diana,s wdding ring, but one of my own. Lets move on with this and let Diana rest in peace. The way it should be. Life marches on. .

[hattie54]

08:57 AM on 01/06/2012

I have moved on.I am also distantly related to the royal family.Diana was also related to some famous Americans.

[peacekitten]

06:41 PM on 01/09/2012

well, people still talk about, write books about, and are vocal about elizabeth I and victoria as well, and they've been gone much longer than diana. perhaps you should entertain the possibility that it's possible to acknowledge diana and her immense influence on modern royalty without seeing it as overshadowing the now. perhaps kate wanted diana's ring, knowing that it was a memento that william had specifically asked to keep from his mother's estate. knowing it meant so much to him, perhaps that is why it means so much to her, as his wife. family traditions are also meaningful. handing something down from the past to the future is very comforting to some people. perhaps you should consider that their choices are their own to make.

[belldn3]

07:08 PM on 01/05/2012

Sit back, be rich and look down on the unfortunate. The lifestyle of the royal and pathetic.

[peacekitten]

06:42 PM on 01/09/2012

how much money have YOU raised for charity?

[fit4ufor3rd]

04:32 PM on 01/05/2012

sounds like she didnt feel like reading the rest of the alphabetical list and picked the first 2 she saw.

[DizzyDancing12]

06:18 PM on 01/05/2012

LOL, that is funny! But nahhh, I am sure she actually is interested in those "a" ones.

[mhagerinteriors]

07:08 PM on 01/05/2012

Art History was her major in college. Good major for her to help maintain all the Royal art.