The Duchess Of Cambridge Delivers Impassioned Speech At The First Action On Addiction Gala

June 14, 2019 Adam Rittenberg

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Despite London’s persistent inclement weather, the Duchess of Cambridge dressed for spring at the inaugural Action on Addiction Gala. To make her speech on the valuable work of the charity, of which she has been a patron since 2012, Kate wore a cream off-the-shoulder Barbara Casasola dress and crystal-embellished Jimmy Choos.

A pair of party shoes if ever there was one, the “Romy 100” pumps are covered entirely in glitter. Kate chose to accent her high-shine footwear, which she first wore at the BAFTAs in February, with a pair of diamond and blue topaz earrings by Kiki McDonough and a new Charlie Classic silk clutch with an ornate bee clasp.

Royal fans will recognise the “Tribal Dress” by London-based Brazil-born Casasola from July 2016, when the Duchess wore it to the Art Fund Museum of the Year Awards. Last night, the mother-of-three told guests in Spring, Somerset House, that the Addiction Awareness Week fundraiser was “very close to [her] heart” because it was one of her first patronages.

“Having met so many people who’ve suffered from addiction, I have seen over and over again that, sadly, the root causes can so often be traced right back to the very earliest years of someone’s life,” the Duchess said regarding the research that has been undertaken into addiction over the last few years. “Trauma experienced in early childhood, in some cases as a result of separation, abandonment, abuse, or even emotional neglect, can have a lasting effect. What we experience during our earliest years, even while we’re still in the womb, shapes the developing brain. It is therefore vital that we support everyone who cares for children in those formative years, especially if we want to help with the inter-generational cycle of addiction.”

She went on to share that the remarkable work of Action on Addiction is rooted in the fact “it goes beyond helping those who are suffering on the courageous journey into recovery – but it also lends direct support to the children and families affected by addiction – for as long as it takes.”