Kate Middleton honors Queen’s Scouts in queen’s absence

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, took on some major royal duties Sunday when she honored the Queen’s Scouts at Windsor Castle.

The former Kate Middleton attended the National Review of Queen’s Scouts for the first time in place of the queen, who was celebrating her 87th birthday privately, the Daily Mail reported. And it looks as if she’s got this royal duty down pat.

Since the duchess, a trained scout volunteer, joined the scouts in 2012, more than 2,800 adults have joined the organization, the BBC reported. That’s the second-largest surge in volunteers since 1986.

The pregnant duchess attended the event at the castle in Berkshire to honor scouts between ages 16 and 25 who have achieved the Queen’s Scout award. They receive the honor for carrying out regular community service for a year, learning new skills, completing a four-day expedition in unknown terrain, taking part in a residential project and then sharing what has been learned with their peers.

Prince William’s wife, 31, who is currently six months pregnant, heralded spring by wearing a mint green cotton Mulberry coat, a Whiteley fascinator and nude L.K. Bennett heels, E! reported. The floral-buttoned coat evidenced her growing baby bump, which she attempted to conceal with a clutch purse.

“Man vs. Wild” star Bear Grylls was also in attendance. He became the UK’s youngest Chief Scout in 2009, when he was 34.

Grylls called the duchess an “incredible role model” for helping people see that scouting wasn’t just for boys.

“She’s also such a generous volunteer and everyone is so excited to have her in the scouting family,” he said. “Many people have followed her lead and are getting involved and enjoying the adventure.”

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