Kate Middleton casually walked into the hallway of the University of Derby Tuesday to check up on the first-year students. The Duchess of Cambridge's surprise visit was caught on video by a royal fan.
Twitter user @chiedza_mutasa relayed that she was shocked to see Kate Middleton in person inside her university. She was able to record the duchess arriving but it took her a while to explain to her lecturer what made her late for class. The Duchess of Cambridge's visit was not announced to avoid a crowd of onlookers, which would violate social distancing protocols.
Other royal fans told Mutasa that her reason for being late was likely worth it since she got close to the Duchess of Cambridge. The commenters also took note of how elegant and graceful Kate walked inside the school's halls.
The royal wanted to meet with some of the students to learn how they are coping amid the pandemic. She asked about the kind of mental health services they received from the college so far.
One student told Kate that it has been hard to live away from home amid the COVID-19 restrictions. They kept busy while in lockdown but it was also challenge not to see their friends or family.
Classes at U.K. universities have been a mix of face-to-face and online lectures. University of Derby established a buddy system and peer mentoring system with the students from the higher years so that they can check up on each other. Kate Middleton praised the initiative.
The visit comes as Saturday, Oct. 10, is World Mental Health Day. Students Minds, a mental health charity, briefed the royal about its latest initiative called Student Space, which ensures that colleges have the right mental health resources to help the students during this uncertain period.
Universities U.K. also came up with a checklist on how the schools can make the students' autumn term much more bearable. The organization has over 139 members, including University of Derby.
Among the suggestions include providing the young adults basic necessities, especially if they are isolating. Incidentally, coronavirus cases have risen in the U.K. since the opening of classes, which has forced many students to stay in their school accommodations to prevent virus spread.
Meanwhile, Kate Middleton also met with some of the student athletes who told her that maintaining their sports training was helpful to their mental health. The Duchess of Cambridge assured the students that they are doing very well despite their challenging circumstances.
