Princess Beatrice champions one of Kate Middleton's favourite causes: Royal attends student mental health roundtable in London

• The royal, 35, joined forces with US-based company Chegg
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Princess Beatrice has appeared at an event to mark Student Mental Health Week where she spoke on a panel about young people’s wellbeing.

The Princess, 35, joined forces with US-based company Chegg to take part in the event in the capital – championing a cause that many will associate with the Princess of Wales.

Kate, 42, who is currently recovering in private after having abdominal surgery last month, has become one of the loudest voices within the royal family in speaking up for the mental health and wellbeing of young people. She has previously revealed she and William care ‘deeply’ about the cause.

Last year, during the week in which World Mental Health Day fell in October, the Princess of Wales took part in a string of engagements focusing specifically on the mental health of students – both solo and with Prince William.

However, while Kate remains at home (and is ‘doing well’, according to Kensington Palace), it appears William’s cousin Beatrice has stepped up to fly the flag for the cause.

Princess Beatrice, 35, looked elegant in black as she appeared at an event promoting youth mental health this week in the US

As she appeared at the event run by Chegg, a company based in Silicon Valley, in conjunction with UK charities Student Minds, the Mental Health Foundation and Big Change Beatrice donned a black belted coat in tweed by Majé costing £535, paired with an A-line Alexander McQueen A-line skirt, tights and lace-up boots.

In a photo posted on X/Twitter by Chegg’s chief communications officer Heather Hatlo Porter, the royal mother-of-one is seen smiling as she chats to some young people.

As Heather posted the snap, she wrote that she was ‘so grateful’ to have heard the royal speak at the event.

She added: ‘Let’s face loneliness together’ – suggesting the event was specifically focused on loneliness in particular.

Last October, the Princess of Wales carried out a string of engagements to promote mental wellbeing, specifically focused on young people

Beatrice’s participation in the event follows a cause the Princess of Wales has long championed as she flies the flag for student mental health awareness while Kate is out of action.

Last year, Kate took part in a number of events to promote mental health and wellbeing in young people.

Across one jam-packed week in October, Kate undertook several engagements promoting a cause, including a visit to Nottingham Trent University.

Kate opted for star earrings given to her by Maidenhead Rugby Club coach Sarah Renton as she hosted a Youth Mental Health Forum in Birmingham

They were made in memory of Mrs Renton’s daughter, Issy (pictured), who tragically took her own life at the age of 17 earlier this year. Kate promised to wear the jewellery after receiving them in June during a trip to the mother’s rugby club

During her visit, in which she donned a chic knitted two-piece from Sézane to hear about the university’s mentoring programme, Kate chatted to students about her own university days.

In a video from Nottinghamshire Live, Kate was seen telling students that she ‘loves challenging herself’ in the fields of music, sport and art.

She added that it’s something she encourages her own children do to by ‘trying out new things’.

The princess continued: ‘University, for me, was when I learnt to try out because there’s so much on offer.’

In her speech, Kate (pictured) said: ‘Mental health is something we both care deeply about’

She then joked, ‘I’d love to be a student again!’ to which the room erupted into laughter.

Kate told students about her love of sport, saying: ‘I love to be outside’. In particular, she noted how she tried out hockey and tennis at St Andrews, where she met her future husband Prince William.

She also said she developed her photography skills through joining clubs at the university.

The solo engagement followed a joint visit with Prince William to Birmingham a day earlier where the royal couple took part in a Youth Mental Health Forum run by BBC Radio 1.

On the visit, Kate revealed her dedication to the cause in a subtle tribute in her jewellery.

She donned a pair of golden star earrings which she had been gifted several months earlier on another engagement promoting youth mental health.

They were made in memory of Sarah Renton’s daughter, Issy, who tragically took her own life at the age of 17 last year after struggling with depression.

Kate promised to wear the jewellery after receiving them during a trip to the rugby club in June.

Mrs Renton said: ‘My daughter Issy took her own life. The proceeds from the earrings are going to a charity called Brave Minds, a mental health charity that supports children using the platforms of rugby clubs. Mental health is such an important issue.

‘She was wonderful, Issy, a real breath of fresh air. She had wonderful, wonderful friends, surrounded herself with the best people.

‘She was owning life, doing so well in her A levels, she was going to do an elite rugby programme, she payed touch rugby for England and got a gold medal in the summer.

‘But she was also struggling with depression. Everything was harder than it was a supposed to be. We thought she was obviously doing better than she was.’

Mrs Renton added that Kate told her she would wear the earrings in future.

At the same Radio 1 event, Kate made a rare public speech in which she revealed how ‘deeply’ she and William cared about the cause of youth mental health.

Kate, who was personally keen to speak at the event, told her audience: ‘Alongside the efforts of many others, we have seen real change. Today, more people feel empowered to talk about their mental health than ever before. This is a major step forward.

‘William and I continue to be inspired to see young people, like you all here today, leading this charge – being particularly brave in having some of those conversations yourselves.

‘As a generation, you value and talk more about your mental health than any before you – something we truly admire and applaud.

‘It is important, however, to remind ourselves of the big picture as we meet here today. What are we trying to improve by focusing our efforts on mental health? Ultimately, we are working to build a happier, healthier world.

‘We want to shape fairer, safer, kinder, more equal societies – societies that seek the common good and a better future together.

‘For just as we need to restore, protect, and invest in our planet, so we must also restore, protect, and invest in the communities, relationships and people living on it.’

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