Prince William told wellwishers ‘not long now’, as his pregnant wife Kate stepped out for her last official outing before she gives birth.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were visiting the Stephen Lawrence Centre at the start of a day of engagements in South London.
Kate, who is due to give birth late next month, looked radiant in a £1,500 fuschia-pink Mulberry coat as they toured the building named after the murdered teenager with his mother, now Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon, 62, and his younger brother Stuart, 37.
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The Duchess of Cambridge looked radiant in £1,500 Mulberry coat as she and Prince William visited the Stephen Lawrence Centre on her last engagement before maternity leave
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge had a tour of the centre with Baroness Lawrence
Be bright and bold this spring in a pink coat by Mulberry
It's her final day of official engagements before the birth of Royal baby number two. And the Duchess of Cambridge is definitely going out in style!
She joined her husband in London, where they are visiting three projects, and of course she looked as elegant as ever. And if you wanted a hint as to whether she's expecting a prince or princess, you've got a clear clue!
She recycled a bright pink coat by British brand Mulberry (whose newest model is none other than Cressida Bonas!). It's the same coat we spotted Kate wearing whilst in New York last December and we love the double breasted style.
This gorgeous shade of fuchsia is perfect to add a pop of colour to your new season wardrobe and if you thought the pink coat trend was so last year then think again. Thanks to labels like Burberry Prorsum and Gucci it's back stronger than ever.
Of course, this autumn/winter 2014 collection topper is now all sold out, but click (right) to check out the Mulberry coats currently available to buy. Alternatively, we've found plenty of pink options on the virtual high street to help you make like Kate, ranging in price from Missguided to Red Valentino.
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It is the second time that the Duchess has worn this Mulberry coat. The first was when the Cambridges visited New York last year and spent time at the World Trade Centre Memorial.
Unlike New York, which was in the grip of a super-storm when the couple visited, the Duchess wore her long hair flowing with bare legs and black heels.
The Duchess was also carrying a clutch by Mulberry with matching black ‘power pumps’ by Stuart Weizman at Russell & Bromley, a favourite combination.
Home to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, the centre was set up in memory of the innocent black 18-year-old, an aspiring architect, who was stabbed to death in 1993 by racist thugs as he waited for a bus in Eltham, south-east London.
The royal couple applauded a choir of schoolgirls from St Martin-in-the-Field High School who greeted them with a short performance inside.
William told them: ‘What a welcome, that was beautiful.’
When one of the singers wished the expectant parents good luck for their new arrival, he added: ‘Thank you, any day now.’
He and Kate were then introduced to staff and volunteers at the Centre, including Stephen Lawrence’s sister Georgina, 36, and her 10-year-old daughter Mia.
A heavily pregnant Kate greeted Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon with a smile as she arrived on Friday
The Duchess of Cambridge was given a posy of flowers by 10-year-old Mia, the niece of the late Stephen Lawrence
The Duchess of Cambridge is chic in a Mulberry coat, which she accessorised with a Mulberry purse, as she arrived at her final stop of the day: a visit to the XLP community bus and the XLP mobile recording studio on the Hazel Grove Estate, Sydenham
The royal's bump was particularly prominent as she arrived at the XLP Mobile recording studio on Friday afternoon
This morning's engagement is the Duchess's last official duties before the birth of her second baby next month
The pregnant Duchess was certainly in good spirits as she laughed on her way out of the centre
Kate was resplendent in a fuchsia coat by luxury British retailer Mulberry as she clasped a posy of flowers
Kate chats to young students who are took part in a role playing lesson about the workings of a British court at the Stephen Lawrence Centre in London
On their final stop of the day, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited an XLP community bus and the XLP mobile recording studio on the Hazel Grove Estate, Sydenham
William and Kate were also shown an exhibition of work by students who have received architectural bursaries from the Trust
Prince William told wellwishers 'not long now', as his pregnant wife Kate stepped out for her last official outing before she gives birth. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were visiting the Stephen Lawrence Centre at the start of a day of engagements
The Duchess of Cambridge shook hands with 10-year-old Mia, the niece of the late Stephen Lawrence
The Duchess of Cambridge looks animated as she chats passionately to young students at the centre
Unlike New York, which was in the grip of a super-storm when the couple visited and the Duchess last wore this Mulberry coat, Kate wore her long hair flowing with bare legs and black heels today
Kate, who last week revealed that she is due to give birth to her second baby in mid-April, kept it simple in her favourite black heels
The couple met with staff and volunteers in the reception before seeing the Harris Academy law workshop in the Centre's lecture room. The Royal party then saw a display of some of Stephen Lawrence's architectural work
In a lecture room, they met pupils from the Harris Academy in Greenwich, who were taking part in a law workshop with lawyers from City firm Stephenson Harwood.
Kate sat and chatted to aspiring legal eagles AJ Banjo, 14 and Owens Agbonwan, 13, who have spent a day at the company and are being mentored by volunteers from the firm.
AJ told her the visit had been “very interesting”, adding: ‘It gave us a chance to look at all the different areas of law. I personally am thinking of going into commercial law.’
William laughed when 13-year-old Owen Wetsi-Kindudi told him he was planning to go into litigation because ‘it would be fun to sue people.’
Owen said: ‘He said that I was a bad one.’
William turned to Kate and said: 'This guy is already planning his retirement, he’s got it all mapped out, it’s perfect.’
he told Owen and his friend Brandon Sikity, 14: ‘Future lawyers, I’m going to keep an eye on you.
‘If I get into trouble I know who I’m calling, you guys will be my first port of call.’
Kate made the most of the warmer springtime weather by shunning tights on her official outing today
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William talk with young people on the top deck of the XLP Mobile recording Studio
XLP is a Christian charity working across seven London boroughs whose staff and volunteers aim to serve the community by meeting the social, educational and behavioural needs of young people, empowering them to make wise lifestyle choices and to realise their potential
The Duchess of Cambridge talks with young people during her visit to the XLP community bus and the XLP mobile recording studio on the Hazel Grove Estate, Sydenham, London
Well-wishers snap away on their mobile phones as they catch a glipmse of the royal couple leaving the centre
Kate looked flawless, as always, and wore her signature black eyeliner and a sweep of blusher across her cheeks
This morning's engagement, which will be followed by two further visits in the area later, are the Duchess's last official duties before the birth of her second baby next month
Kate seemed to be in great spirits as she placed her hand playfully on Prince William's back as they made their way inside
It is the second time that the Duchess has worn this Mulberry coat. The first was when the Cambridges visited New York last year and spent time at the World Trade Centre Memorial and she accessorised with pink morganite earrings by Kiki McDonough
The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust was set up in 1998 by Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, right, as she is now known, in memory of her murdered son, Stephen
Kate, 33, wore her hair in its signature bouncy blow-dry as she made the most of her last official duty before the arrival of her baby
The Duchess is seemingly completely unaware as a waiting fan takes a selfie with her in the background
Opened in 2008, the centre, which Kate visited today, is a place for community learning and social research, inspiring and motivating young people. The centre also hosts community based programmes for all ages including programmes in IT, creative arts and multi-media
The royal couple then paused to view examples of Stephen Lawrence’s own architectural drawings on display in the corridor.
In the offices of SLIK Magazine – short for Stephen Lawrence Instils Knowledge, they were shown a video featuring young people involved in the digital journalism project.
William spotted Boris Johnson on the front page of one of the quarterly editions and laughed: “Ah, Boris.”
SLIK is written, designed and produced by aspiring journalists, designers and publishers in the Centre’s PC room.
Programme Manager Doreen Thompson-Addo said: ‘It gives young people an opportunity to develop their skills for work – and gives them experience to put on their CVs.’
Kate seemed particulary interested in how the online magazine is produced.
She asked: ‘Do you all read each other’s writing before it goes up? Is there a big editing process?
‘There is a huge amount of work that goes into it.'
Baroness Lawrence told her: ‘There is a lot happening at the centre and what we want to do is keep developing people’s skills so that they have the skills to go out and find work.’
The chatty Duchess of Cambridge received flowers from Stephen Lawrence's nice Mia as she left the Stephen Lawrence Centre
Kate showcased a variety of expressions as she chatted to well-wishers on her way out of the event hosted by charity XLP at Christ Church Gipsy Hill in South London
The Duchess of Cambridge today revealed shepherd's pie is one of her favourite dishes as she carried out her last public events before the birth of her second child
Prince William then joined in with the conversation between Kate and the late Stephen's young niece
The Duchess looked pensive as she left the charitable centre with a posy of flowers from a young wellwisher
William and Kate were then shown an exhibition of work by students who have received architectural bursaries from the Trust.
Lisa Basu, 35, who won the prize in 2004, told them: 'Without the bursary I would have struggled to have finished university.'
Another beneficiary, 29-year-old Angelitia Clarke, from Brixton, said: 'Kate asked how green architecture is influencing our buildings, she seemed interested.'
After signing the visitors’ book, Baroness Lawrence presented William with a framed photograph of Prince Charles giving the first Stephen Lawrence Memorial Lecture at the Trust’s launch in 2000.
The prince joked: ‘Who’s this man?” Thank you very much.’
Outside, Kate was presented with a posy of flowers by Stephen’s niece Mia, 10.
Mia told her she was a keen cook and that her favourite dish is Shepherd’s Pie.
Kate told her: ‘That’s our favourite too.’
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge chatted to Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon as they arrived at the Stephen Lawrence Centre
Speaking afterwards, Baroness Lawrence said: 'It has been quite an amazing visit. They spent really good time with all of our young people and showed genuine interest in what they are doing.
'They were just beaming, especially our up-and-coming lawyers.'
It took nearly 19 years to convict two of Stephen Lawrence’s five alleged killers after police blunders, two failed prosecutions and a public enquiry that branded the Metropolitan Police “institutionally racist”.
Gary Dobson and David Norris were jailed for life in 2012 after a change to the law on double jeopardy, meaning they could be tried again for the same offence.
They were convicted using forensic evidence gathered using techniques that had not been available in 1993.
The Trust is now a national educational charity committed to promoting social justice.
The Stephen Lawrence Centre, designed by renowned architect David Adjaye OBE, was opened in 2008 as a centre of excellence for architecture and design and the wider built environment.
The pattern in the façade is designed by Turner Prize winning artist Chris Ofili.
It is a space for community learning and social research and aims to inspire and motivate young people.
It is also available for conferences, meetings, training and seminars and hosts community-based programmes for all ages, including programmes in IT, creative arts and multi-media.
The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust was was set up in 1998 by Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, as she is now known, in memory of her murdered son and today, the royal couple visited the centre to see the work being done
Later the Duke and Duchess visited the Excel Project (XLP), a charity which works with young people from London boroughs to help them achieve a brighter future.
It was set up in 1996 after a head teacher asked youth worker Patrick Regan to come into his school and work with children following a stabbing in the playground.
Although the charity is a Christian organisation and is based at Christ Church in Gipsy Hill, south London, it works with young people from all faiths, and none, across seven inner London boroughs.
After starting up with pledges of £25 per month from 17 people, it has grown into a £1.4million charity with 30 staff, 30 youth workers who are on gap years, and 200 registered volunteers. They see 1,800 children per week.
The royal couple were shown around by Patrick Regan OBE, chief executive of XLP, and Hannah Bourazza, XLP Mentoring Manager for Lewisham.
The Duke reacted with surprise today when he met a south London teenager who told him he had been stabbed in the head just a month ago.
'Are you serious?' the Duke said as Tex Tuwizana, 16, described the attack.
Tex, from Catford, was showing the duke a mobile recording studio in a converted police riot van where he is learning how to record and produce music.
The studio is run by the charity XLP, which Tex said had helped turn his life around. 'On 23 February I got stabbed in the head,# he said. “It hurt me mentally as well as physicaly.
'But before XLP, I would have retaliated. It has made me change my vision, made me wiser – forgive and forget.'
She may be just a month away from giving birth to the couple's second child but Kate looked resplendent on her last visit today
His mother, right, has also arranged for William and Kate to meet with magazine editors from SLIK (Stephen Lawrence Instils Knowledge) in the PC room, who are helping to produce a digital magazine and website project for young people
The recording studio, which was parked on an estate in Sydenham, was run by project manager Ethan Bernard, 33, who said he was helping local youngsters because he had faced similar challenges when he was their age.
'I got into a fair bit of trouble when I was younger. Unfortunately a friend of mine was murdered 13 years ago. That made me stop and check and say, "What is going on here?" At that point my life took a turn.
'I had a desire to go back into the communities that I am from and support these young people who don’t have role models in the way that I didn’t have a role model.'
The recording van was converted on the UK version of the TV show Pimp My Ride in 2008. 'It’s mainly hip-hop and grime, but we also have a few soul and R’n’B singers that come on board. Sometimes we get guitarists coming in and strumming away.'
The van was parked alongside a bus that acts as a mobile youth centre where local youngsters can meet, use computers and games consoles and even have cooking lessons. Community project manager Ian Hiley said: 'It gives them opportunities to express themselves and do different things that they might not have had an opportunity to do before. It’s about opening up their eyes to new things.'
He said one group was going climbing on Mount Snowdon said, while another was getting skiing lessons with a view to becoming instructors.
The Duke and Duchess’s visit to the bus, where they talked to a group who had been helped by XLP, sparked a furious political debate.
While most of the youngsters said afterwards the couple had been understanding and down to earth, one 17-year-old, who called himself Hero, interjected angrily: 'They had no clue where we were coming from. I don’t think they could relate to anything we said.
'They are just keeping up appearances. They wanted to make it look like they related. We are paying our taxes – we pay for them to live where they live.'
Their Royal Highnesses was accompanied by the Baroness as they toured the building. They met with staff and volunteers in the reception before seeing the Harris Academy law workshop in the Centre's lecture room
However his fury soon abated. Asked what he thought how the couple came across, he said: 'Other than that, they were very considerate. They genuinely cared about what we said.'
The group included Coco, 20, from Charlton, who said that when she first came across XLP she was encouraged to set up a girl band with three friends called Skinni Latte. Coco, whose mother suffered from poor mental health and whose brother died of meningitis when he was young, said: 'I thought it was just about the singing. But it was a confidence builder. It was about becoming your own person.
'I was my mum’s primary carer because there was nobody else to look after her. That was a big struggle for a young person. The group was the way I was able to speak about my brother and my mum. All of us are now employed by Barclays, and doing amazingly well.
'If it wasn’t for XLP I would not be where I am. I would probably be on the streets. I would have been kicked out by now.'
The Duke and Duchess were introduced to Steven Ekpenyong, 23, who was planning a robbery with his friends when he first encountered XLP.
While his friends were sent to prison for seven years, Steven decided to get involved with XLP, and now works as the charity’s director of sports, as well as playing semi-professional football for Herne Bay FC.
Stephen Lawrence was just 18 when he was murdered by racist thugs as he waited for a bus in Eltham, south east London in April 1993. He had never met his attackers before. His mother, pictured, set up the centre in his memory
To this day, only two of the five perpetrators originally charged with Stephen's, pictured, killing have been convicted and imprisoned. A subsequent public enquiry into the official handling of the case saw the Metropolitan Police branded as 'institutionally racist' by the Macpherson report
He said: 'I was an angry young person as a teenager, my teacher was always telling me I would end up dead or in jail and you end up believing it. Then my mum lost her job, we ended up living in a hotel, and I got into crime just to make money for us.
'My friends were gang members and I was planning a robbery with them, but then I found out that XLP were working in my school, and had an old police riot van that had been turned into a recording studio by MTV and the Police. I ended up on MTV, and I was sitting watching it with my friends and thought 'I can strive to be better, I can change that circle.'
He said of the Duke and Duchess’s visit: 'It makes such a difference - events like this help us share some positive insight into what young people in the community are about.'
Mr Regan, 41, said: 'Some of the time young people think nothing good ever happens to them, and things like this only happen to people who are privileged.
'The fact that people like the Duke and Duchess are showing an interest in them really matters.'
As they arrived at the church, the Duke and Duchess were each presented with a posy of roses, tulips and daffodils by Dayan Ahmed Gonzalves and Verity Flint, both aged 10, from Paxton Primary School.
The Duchess was even was wolf-whistled by someone in the crowd on the opposite side of the street.
The couple watched an arts showcase presentation by performers who have been through XLP’s arts programme, and were invited onto the stage where they were presented with T-shirts with the logo 'I refuse to believe this is a lost generation'.
Earlier The Duke of Cambridge had described the impending arrival of his second child as a 'game changer'.
During a visit to a youth charity in South London with the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke chatted to members of the public about the royal baby during a brief walkabout.
Claudia French, 40, who was holding her 18-month-old daughter Lily, said: 'William was asking me if Lily was the same age as Prince George and I said she was. He was asking me if she was walking yet.
'We were talking about him becoming a father again and he said "The first time is a learning experience, the second time is a game-changer".'
The crowd cheer as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive for their visit to the XLP community bus and the XLP mobile recording studio on the Hazel Grove Estate, Sydenham, London
The crowd get their camera phones at the ready at the royal couple descend on Sydenham
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