Mail Online

In the pink, Kate and Jill are a class double act

By Rebecca English Royal Editor

SHE is an expert in the crucial early years of child development and yesterday the Duchess of Cambridge shared her knowledge with Jill Biden as they met for the first time.

But Kate also showed there’s not much the First Lady can teach her about diplomacy as she fielded questions on the rather sensitive other topic du jour.

Asked by US TV journalist Andrea Mitchell whether she had ‘ any wishes’ for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s controversially named baby daughter Lilibet, Kate said sweetly: ‘I wish her all the very best. I can’t wait to meet her. We haven’t met yet. I hope that will be soon.’

Asked if she had FaceTimed her niece, the duchess simply admitted: ‘ No I haven’t, no,’ before returning to look at the papers in front of her.

Kate, dressed in a £1,125 fuchsia Alexander McQueen dress and Dr Biden, in complementary bubblegum pink, visited Connor Downs Academy in Hayle, Cornwall, to highlight a topic that has occupied the

‘I can’t wait to meet her’

duchess since her royal duties began on her marriage in 2011.

Last year she released the biggest ever study into the early years that reinforced the importance of that period in shaping life outcomes.

For her part, Dr Biden is an English professor who used to teach in a high school.

First they visited the reception class, where the children had been learning about landmarks and had been given pictures of Kensington Palace and the White House.

‘ Have you got a good teacher?’ Kate asked one pupil, who nodded. Later, the women joined a round-table discussion with academics and practitioners in the early years field. Afterwards the Duchess said to Dr Biden: ‘I hope our two countries can keep sharing data, knowledge, and best practice over the years to come. Thank you for your interest.’

The Seaside Summit

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