Kate Middleton: Experts praise royal for Scouts visit

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The Duchess of Cambridge started volunteering for the Scouts in 2012, working with the cub pack when she lived in Anglesey with Prince William. She has promoted aspects like flexible volunteering and has done various engagements over the years before being appointed the joint president in September. Matt Heid, CEO of the Scouts, said there has been “fantastic engagement” from Kate, before being asked what she is really like to work with behind the scenes.

In an interview with Mirror Online features editor Zoe Forsey for Pod Save the Queen, he said people resonate with Kate because “what you see is what you get”.

He said Kate in real life is consistent with what you see in front of the cameras, as is the case with the Chief Scout Bear Grylls.

He said Mr Grylls has managed to get him to do more adventurous things and is hugely encouraging and insists you should “never give up”.

Mr Heid said: “[Kate is] consistent really with what you see and I think that’s why there are some people in the public eye that have such resonance with the public and that’s because what you see is what you get.

“We’re lucky to have a Chief Scout in Bear Grylls who what you see is exactly what you said.

“I mean, I’ve had moments where he’s forced me to do more adventurous things and you’re just like you would be on a Running Wild or something and he’s acting in exactly the same way, he’s encouraging you and ‘never give up’.

“And I think that’s why some people resonate so much with the public because what you see is what you get.”

He added that Kate is “totally charming” and very good at putting people at ease, whether they are a scout leader or a young person.

He said people do get “starstruck” but that she is fantastic at asking the right questions and listening.

The Scouts CEO said Kate is “good at engaging people of all ages” and brings out the best in young people and wants to hear their stories.

He said: “It’s always such an exciting moment when you get to spend time with her and just see how she shines but also brings the best out of others.”

Ms Forsey noted how Kate “gets her hands dirty”, she never just stands there and watches, she will get involved with roasting marshmallows or helping out with the crafts.

Mr Heid went on to explain that Kate has helped showcase the areas the Scouts have wanted to focus on over the years.

In 2014, they had launched a big campaign to extend the reach of the Scouts to deprived communities across the country, and Kate visited a pack in an area of deprivation in East London.

She attended the Cubs100, the centenary of cub scouting in 2016, visiting a cub pack in Kings Lynn near the Cambridges’ Anmer Hall home.

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In 2019, she attended the Scout headquarters at Gilwell Park to explore a pilot project extending the Scouts to four and five-year-olds.

This, in particular, was in line with Kate’s work as the area of early years development has become a core part of her royal work.

She recently launched the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which aims to get to the crux of the issues affecting kids in their most formative years.

Mr Heid noted that early years are “so important” to the Duchess and that they try to align what they are passionate about as Scouts and what she cares about, so the development in younger children, along with mental health and wellbeing.

Kate Middleton joins Cub and Beaver Scouts for an activity

They then discussed Kate’s visit to a Scout group in Northolt, where she went to thank volunteers to help run the pack throughout the pandemic over Zoom.

Mr Heid said: “The advantage of being a volunteer herself is that, not only is she not daunted by [getting involved with activities] actually she really enjoys doing them.

“I know she was saying, even last year, they had spent so much time with the family, getting outdoors and lighting fires as well so so this is something that’s really core to her belief and what she’s passionate about

“She’s experienced the power of being outdoors on her wellbeing and the family’s wellbeing and she wants others to experience that as well.”

Kate has spoken passionately about the childhood that she had, enjoying the outdoors, and how she does the same with her own children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The young royals are outside almost every day, in line with the message of the Scouts which is to get young people having fun outdoors, having adventures and learning skills for life.

Kate even created her woodland garden for the Chelsea Flower Show on this theme of providing outdoor space for children to enjoy and develop.

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