The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were back at work today after facing criticism for jetting off on a secret luxury ski break to the French Alps last weekend.
William and Kate arrived at St Thomas Hospital, in London, this morning to visit mental health patients and campaigners to highlight suicide prevention.
Kate, 34, recycled a distinctive bright green Erdem coat previously worn on the royal tour of New Zealand in April 2014 and at the launch of the Tour de France in Yorkshire in July 2014. William looked causal in chinos.
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The Duchess of Cambridge arrived for at London's St Thomas Hospital with Prince William this morning to meet a mental health campaigner and the man who saved him from taking his own life, as they champion efforts to prevent suicide
Kate, 34, recycled a distinctive bright green Erdem coat previously worn on the royal tour of New Zealand in April 2014 and at the opening of the Yokrshire leg of the Tour de France
The pair have been promoting awareness of mental health issues for some time.
But they have faced mounting pressure over claims that they are ‘part time’ royals who carry out far few engagements then the Queen and Prince Philip.
Criticism intensified after it emerged that they had been secretly holidaying in Courchevel in the French Alps, an oligarch’s playground famous for its luxury chalets and exclusivity.
The private trip came after 33-year-old William was accused of being 'workshy' when it emerged he worked 80 hours a month as an air ambulance pilot, which works out as roughly half of a full-time, 40-hour-a-week job.
Kate meets Jonny Benjamin (centre) who started the #FindMike search in 2014 to find the unknown passer-by who stopped him as he attempted to jump off a bridge in central London six years earlier. The man who helped him was later identified as former personal trainer Neil Laybourn (right) when the search went viral
Finding Mike: The Stranger on the Bridge, an award-winning documentary which aired on Channel 4 last year, captured the meeting of Jonny Benjamin (second from right) and Neil Laybourn (right)
The couple discussed issues surrounding suicide with campaigner Jonny Benjamin who believes that he may not have reached crisis point if he'd received help for his mental health challenges earlier in life
Kate wore her brunette locks in loose curls for the visit, which also saw her recycle a favouritewool Erdem 'Allie' coat
Since the start of the year he has also carried out just four royal engagements, even though his pilot's schedule is said to allow time for his official duties and charitable work. Kate has carried out four engagements since January, making today's visit the fifth of the year so far for both royals.
At this morning's engagement, the couple met with Jonny Benjamin who started the #FindMike search in 2014 to find the unknown passer-by who stopped him as he attempted to jump off a bridge in central London six years earlier.
Mr Benjamin, then 20, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and said he felt his life had hit 'rock bottom' before the kindly intervention of a stranger.
The man who helped him was later identified as former personal trainer Neil Laybourn when the search went viral.
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Green is clearly the color to be seen in this season. On her last engagement, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a green Sportmax coat, and now here she is recycling this emerald number by Erdem.
It's not the first time we've seen this wool coat. In fact this is its third outing! And it's easy to see why it's a favorite; we love the top-to-bottom zip detail, as well as the little Peter Pan collar. When accessorized with her go-to Mulberry clutch, it's classic Kate.
Plus, not only does the color suit her down to the ground, but by wearing Erdem she is showing her knowledge of designers. With A-listers like Emma Watson, Alexa Chung and Kate Bosworth all wearing the British brand's blooming beautiful floral designs, Kate is in good and stylish company.
Of course this exact coat has now sold out, but don't be green with envy! Click the link (right) to shop the current collection at Net-a-Porter, or take a look at the sophisticated options we've got lined up for you in the edit below.
This lace coat by Erdem is now in the sale so is a must for Duchess fans!
The royal couple chatted to the two men at London's St Thomas' Hospital where Mr Benjamin was treated after he threatened to take his own life.
The FindMike canpaign became a global phenomenon - supported by dozens of high profile names including Stephen Fry, Boy George and Prime Minister David Cameron
A documentary has been made about his experiences and the campaign. Finding Mike: The Stranger on the Bridge, an award-winning documentary which aired on Channel 4 last year, captured the pair's meeting.
Kate's has been working to highlight the importance of helping children deal with any issues they might be facing at an early age
The Duchess was all smiles despite facing criticism this week for being 'work shy' after it was revealed that she had William have only carried out four official engagements each so far this year
The royals pose for a photograph with former patient Jonny Benjamin (right), and Neil Laybourn (left) during their visit to St Thomas' Hospital in London where Mr Benjamin was treated after he threatened to take his own life
Mr Benjamin now regularly attends screenings of the film with young people as a way to encourage open discussions about mental health issues.
He has also launched a campaign to raise awareness of mental health and suicide, saying: 'I wanted to let people know that it's OK to have suicidal thoughts and feelings.
'I also hoped to show people that through talking about it, and by having someone else listen, it is possible to overcome the darkness that overwhelms a person when they feel helpless.
'This is something that I learned from my exchange with Neil on the bridge six years ago, and a message that I've been trying to pass on to others.
'When you're in a place that you want to end your life, you've got no hope left and you've got no belief left in yourself.
'So for this stranger to come and put his belief in me, his faith in me, it changed what I was about to do. I didn't jump.'
Earlier this morning the couple payed a secret visit to the Maytree Suicide Respite Centre in North London. The sanctuary posted a picture of the Royals sitting down for a cup of tea on their Twitter page following the visit
The couple met staff at the centre which offers free four and five night stays and the opportunity for those to be in crisis to be befriended and heard in complete confidence
Mr Benjamin firmly believes if he had received help earlier in life he would not have reached crisis point.
He began experiencing mental health difficulties at the age of 10, later developing depression and eventually being diagnosed as suffering from developed schizoaffective disorder, a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
In his early 20s he started to experience the delusion that he was on his own version of the film, The Truman Show, and was hospitalised as a result of his condition in January 2008.
Not long afterwards, however, he ran away from hospital with the intention of taking his own life by jumping off a bridge.
He said: 'People stand up and say 'I beat cancer' and they're not afraid to say that, but people are afraid to say 'I've got mental health issues' and that's what really needs to change.'
He strongly believes that people need to be more positive role models for those 'facing dark times in their lives'.
Mr Benjamin believes that he may not have reached crisis point if he'd received help for his mental health challenges earlier in life.
Similarly, Kate's has been working to highlight the importance of helping children deal with any issues they might be facing at an early age.
The Duchess has made the mental wellbeing of young people a key focus of her work and last month she swapped motherhood and royal duties for journalism for a day to support a children's mental health charity of which she is the patron.
She guest edited an online newspaper for a day, inviting journalists into Kensington Palace to use the royal apartments as a newsroom.
The project saw her commission articles from experts, parents and children focusing on mental health issues affecting young people.
She is also a staunch supporter of the charity Place2Be since assuming the role of patron in 2013, and last year she recorded a rare video address for the charity, which provides emotional help and support in schools.
Meanwhile Prince William especially wants to highlight the worrying numbers of young men between 15 and 35 years old who end their own lives.
While working as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, he has been involved in a number of callouts to young men who have attempted suicide.
Brian Dow, from the charity Rethink Mental Illness, said the number of people resorting to suicide is a problem we can no longer ignore.
'We need to make sure people are able to talk, reduce the means of suicide, making it less possible to take your own life, but also giving support to families who have been through it also makes a very big difference as well,' he said.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were back at work today after facing criticism for jetting off on a secret luxury ski break to the French Alps last weekend with their children George, two, and Charlotte, 10 months
Since the start of the year William has carried out just three royal engagements, even though his pilot's schedule is said to allow time for his official duties and charitable work
‘Jonny Benjamin says that if he had received help for his mental health problems earlier, he would not have reached the point where he was about to take his own life.
'Luckily someone was there for Jonny that day, but there are so many others whose stories end very differently.
‘Not only is the number of male suicides staying stubbornly high, but the number of women taking their own lives is also creeping up.
'The reasons for suicide are complex, but we know that with the right support at the right time, things can change.
‘The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are doing a tremendous thing by highlighting this important issue.’
Mr Benjamin added: ‘I am so honoured to take part in this event to raise awareness about suicide prevention. Every day in Britain 17 families lose a father, brother, mother or sister to suicide.
'It is vital that every school includes mental health education to help prevent future tragedies.’
Earlier this morning the couple payed a secret visit to the Maytree Suicide Respite Centre in North London. The couple met staff at the centre which offers free four and five night stays and the opportunity for those to be in crisis to be befriended and heard in complete confidence.
Kate previously wore the distinctive green coat on ea visit to the National Cycling Centre of Excellence and Avantidrome on April 12, 2014 in Hamilton, New Zealand
She recycled to old favourite for a second time in the same year when launching the Yorkshire leg of the Tour De France with William in July 2014
Following the visit the centre shared a picture of the couple sitting down for a cup of tea on their Twitter page.
Later at Kensington Palace, the Royals will join 20 young people to watch the documentary, and the campaigner and his Neil will lead a discussion.
Following the session, William and Kate will join a private meeting with a group bereaved in various ways by suicide, to discuss their experiences and the support they have received since.
William and Kate also hope today's engagements will contribute to breaking down the stigma around suicide.
The couple, along with Prince Harry, are said to be determined to make mental health a major focus of their work in the year ahead.
However, they have this week faced criticism for choosing to take their first holiday as a family with Princess Charlotte in secret.
Their aides bizarrely refused to say where the royal family had stayed during their secret holiday, other than to say it was in the French Alps, but it's believed they enjoyed their break in the pretty Alpine village of Courchevel.
The upmarket ‘playground of the oligarchs’ resort within the popular Les Trois Vallées ski region is known for attracting A-list celebrities and royals. Film star Brigitte Bardot helped to put it on the map in the 1960s and David and Victoria Beckham are regular visitors.
Unlike royal ski holidays of old - when a group of photographers was invited to capture the family relaxing on the slopes - the Cambridges chose to escape the country without telling the media of their plans.
Instead of arranging a photo-call to mark the getaway, William and Kate invited only a single Press Association photographer, who took a small number of posed portraits.
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