Duchess of Cambridge chooses her charities

Kate will serve as the patron of Action on Addiction and the National Portrait Gallery (NPG), and as Royal Patron of The Art Room and East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. She also plans to volunteer privately with Scout Association groups near her Welsh home and elsewhere as her duties allow.

‘The Duchess’ first patronages and her volunteer position reflect Her Royal Highness’ personal interests in the arts, the promotion of outdoor activity, and supporting people who are in need of all ages, especially young children,’ St. James’s Palace said in a statement.

‘The Duchess’ new roles reflect her... wish to support the Royal Family’s work in highlighting important causes in the charitable and voluntary sector and the arts. The Duchess has chosen to support organizations that complement the charitable work already undertaken by her husband.’

Kate’s choices range from the high-profile—the NPG in London has produced high-profile exhibitions focussing on Annie Leibowitz and The Beatles—to the lesser-known. The Art Room is a small Oxford charity that helps troubled children through art therapy.

‘This is just fantastic, it will raise the profile of the charity and get people to see the work we are doing,’ founder Juli Beattie said.

The Duchess spent the autumn researching organisations vying for her patronage, taking meetings at St. James’s Palace and visiting a number of charity sites. The Palace noted that she ‘personally considered’ all patronage requests.

‘I am very pleased to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cambridge as the National Portrait Gallery’s Patron,’ Professor Sir David Cannadine, chairman of trustees at the NPG, said. ‘This is a matter of great pleasure for the Trustees of the Gallery and all its staff and supporters and we much look forward to working with her in the future.’

Take a look at all the pictures from The Royal Wedding