Kate Middleton joins Ant and Dec at an addiction awareness event

The Duchess of Cambridge looked radiant in a bold red ensemble as she joined TV presenting duo Ant and Dec at an addiction awareness event in London. 

Kate, 39, donned a pleated scarlet midi skirt and a matching fitted turtleneck for the engagement at the BAFTA headquarters in Piccadilly, accessorising with towering Ralph Lauren point toe pumps and a £295 micro-handbag from DeMellier.

The event, hosted by drug and alcohol dependence charity the Forward Trust, was hosted by Ant and Dec and saw the Duchess deliver a keynote address in which she said ‘anyone’ can become an addict.  

‘Addiction is not a choice. No one chooses to become an addict. But it can happen to any one of us. None of us are immune,’ she said, launching the charity’s ‘Taking Action on Addiction’ campaign. 

‘Yet it’s all too rarely discussed as a serious mental health condition. And seldom do we take the time to uncover and fully understand its fundamental root causes.’

Ant, who has received treatment for drink and drug addiction, was supported at the event by his wife, Anne-Marie Corbett. Dec attended with his wife Ali Astall. 

In the keynote address, which coincides with the start of Addiction Awareness Week, Kate said: ‘The journey towards addiction is often multi-layered and complex. But, by recognising what lies beneath addiction, we can help remove the taboo and shame that sadly surrounds it.

‘As a society, we need to start from a position of compassion and empathy. Where we nurture those around us, understand their journey, and what has come before them.

‘We need to value and prioritise care and support, helping to restore and connect individuals who are clearly suffering, to the people around them.

‘That is why I am so passionate about the work of The Forward Trust, an organisation I am so proud to be patron of. This is the work that you, and many other charities, provide day in, day out. And it is needed now, more than ever.

‘The pandemic has had a devastating impact on addiction rates. And families and children are having to cope with addiction in greater numbers than ever before… 

‘Yet, there is hope. Over the last ten years, I have had the privilege of meeting many incredible people who have lived through the harsh realities of addiction. Through their own hard work, and with the help from communities and charities, such as The Forward Trust, lives really are being turned around.’

The Duchess of Cambridge, who became patron of the Forward Trust in June, also spoke to people who had benefitted from the charity’s work. 

Over the last ten years, the Duchess’s experience working with addiction charities has helped lay the groundwork for her understanding of the complexities of mental health and has informed much of her work on the early years. 

Experiences in early childhood, before the age of five, are proven to have significant impact on adult lives, including resilience and the ability to cope with adversity. 

Addiction is also close to Ant and Dec’s hearts. Ant has faced several hardships in recent years, going through a divorce from wife of 11 years, Lisa Armstrong, and entering rehab for alcohol and drug addiction.

 The presenter then took a break from presenting duties after he was arrested for drink-driving in March 2018, while he and Dec were still hosting Saturday Night Takeaway.

Ant told police he was ‘ashamed and mortified’ after crashing his car while drink-driving with his mother in the passenger seat. 

The launch of the event coincides with Addiction Awareness Week, running from 18 to 24 October, which aims to provide a platform to highlight the challenges of addiction, to engage with people and families affected, and to raise public awareness. 

The Forward Trust has been helping people break the destructive cycle of addiction and build positive and productive futures since 1991. 

The Duchess of Cambridge became Patron of the Forward Trust in June 2021 when the charity merged with Action on Addiction, which was one of Her Royal Highness’ first Patronages in 2012.