Kate Middleton Makes First Appearance Since Kids' School Break at Special Community for Dads

The Princess of Wales joined the "Dadvengers" to highlight the importance of fathers in their children's lives

Kate Middleton is joining forces with the Dadvengers!

The Princess of Wales stepped out on Wednesday for her first public event in two weeks. Princess Kate and Prince William, both 41, scaled down their royal duties recently while their three children — Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 — were off from school for a half-term holiday.

Kate joined a meeting of the "Dadvengers," a community for fathers and their children in Arnos Grove, London, to highlight the important role that dads play in their children’s earliest years.

Dadvengers is a primarily online community that supports fathers in parenthood with a focus on mental well-being and training programs. They've also begun gathering for "Dad Walks," which provide a way for men to meet other fathers in their community in an informal setting.

Related: Kate Middleton Reveals the Fitness Routine That Has Prince William Telling Her She's 'Crazy'

Princess Kate joined a Dad Walk through a local park and heard about the support the Dadvengers give each other.

Kate posed for photos with the parents and children, including a group shot where she let out a big laugh!

Kneeling down for a photo with 3-year-old Maya Sanmuganathan, the royal complimented her colorful outfit. "I love your stripy tights," Kate said, according to Hello! "I should have worn my stripy tights."

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Inside the Arnos Arms pub, Princess Kate chatted with the dads about the program.

"I think the thing is raising the importance of family time and the role dads are playing in raising kids," she said, according to Hello! magazine. "Through what you guys are doing, the kids are seeing the importance of socializing and getting together."

Kate also agreed with a father who said that moms and dads shouldn't have separate responsibilities, saying, "It's shared."

The Princess of Wales was hosted by Nigel Clarke, the founder of Dadvengers and known for his work on The Baby Club on the BBC’s CBeebies.

Clarke said, "Fathers have a hugely significant role to play in their children’s lives, right from the start. Even before their baby is born, fathers can get involved and Dadvengers is on a mission to support them to do that in ways that work for them."

"We provide them with information and advice to help look after their own well-being, while also supporting them to build the nurturing relationships and surroundings we know are so important in the very earliest years of their children’s lives," he continued. "It's what Dadvengers is all about."

Following the visit, Clarke said the group was "in shock" over Kate's visit, according to Hello! magazine.

"They were amazed she's taken the time to come and visit a group like this," he said. "We discussed how it’s important to have groups and spaces like this. Dads are worried they're going to feel awkward, but in a space like this, they relax and open up."

Related: Kate Middleton Visits Alma Mater Marlborough College — Will Prince George Follow Mom's Path?

Earlier this year, Princess Kate launched the Shaping Us campaign for her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

"The campaign is fundamentally about shining a spotlight on the critical importance of early childhood and how it shapes the adults we become," Kate said in a speech surrounding the project's launch. "This is why it is essential, to not only understand the unique importance of our earliest years but to know what we can all do to help raise future generations of happy, healthy adults."

Children’s issues have long been a part of Kate’s royal charity work, and she’s honed her focus in recent years on early childhood development and the critical role caretakers play in the first few years of life.

Prince William was also on royal duty on Wednesday. The Prince of Wales awarded honors at Windsor Castle during an investiture ceremony.

After limiting royal outings to spend time with their kids in recent weeks, the Prince and Princess of Wales are continuing their work on Thursday with a joint visit to Scotland. William and Kate — who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay while in Scotland — are set to meet organizations that support rural communities in Moray and Inverness. They will learn more about how the causes support the mental health of young people through access to the great outdoors and practical learning opportunities.

Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camilla are continuing their royal tour of Kenya. During the King's speech at the state banquet on Tuesday evening, he brought up his son and daughter-in-law, who got engaged in the African country back in 2010.

"It was here, in sight of Mount Kenya, that my son, the Prince of Wales, proposed to his wife, now my beloved daughter-in-law," King Charles said.

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