Today The Duchess of Cambridge opened a new treatment centre for addiction recovery as part of her role as Patron of Action on Addiction.

The recovery programme Clouds in the Community offers a 48-day treatment programme for people suffering addiction

as an alternative to residential treatment, and enables the charity to provide services for more people in more places.

The programme is designed to be a starting point for long term recovery and abstinence, and leads to improvements in participants’ physical and psychological health, self-efficacy, and overall quality of life.

Independent evaluation of the programme in Essex showed that almost 80% of clients did not return to any treatment service upon completion of the scheme.

The Duchess also joined a round-table discussion with healthcare professionals and met with people who have benefited from the services.

Action on Addiction is a charity that offers life-saving treatment to both individuals and their families. It works in the areas of research, prevention, treatment, aftercare, as well as professional education and family support.

Kate has been their Patron since 2012; it was one of the first four organisations that she chose to work with.

She has attended a number of engagements in the field of addiction in the past, including visits to women's prisons to talk to women battling drug and alcohol addictions.

By choosing patronage of an addiction charity as one of her first official roles, Kate follows in the footsteps of Princess Diana, who became Patron of Turning Point — a charity working with mental health and substance abuse — in 1985.

Kate said in a brief speech, "So you are very special to me. It's great to be here and actually seeing the development of where the charity's gone in the years gone past."

The Duchess was back in a Goat coat for today's visit to Action on Addiction.

The English label has proven to be Kate's favourite for this pregnancy. Although Goat does not have a maternity line, they hold many tunic-style items that accomodate a growing bump.

Kate's new blue coat today was the 'Ellory Bow Detail Coat' in the Marine colourway. It is currently only available in size 14 for £330 down from £660.

It is described: "The stunning marine shade echoes paradisiacal oceans and the pretty bow detailing ensures this is more than just your everyday coat."

She teamed it with sheer hosiery and her Aspinal London clutch bag, a style which is from a collaboration with Beulah London in 2015.

For shoes, she brought back her old favourite Stuart Weitzman 'Power' black suede pumps that have been worn since 2014 but are no longer available.

Kate also wore her stunning G Collins & Sons Tanzanite and Diamond earrings today too.

Unfortunately we didn't get much of a look at her dress underneath.

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The Duchess of Cambridge told a member of the crowd in Essex today when asked if she was looking forward to Harry's wedding, "Yes and now we have two with Eugenie's - it's very exciting".