Kate Middleton went back to school!

For her latest public engagement, the Duchess of Cambridge visited the University of Derby to speak with students about how their mental health has been impacted amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Dressed for the season, the duchess sported an oversized, checkered coat and pastel-blue knit sweater, both by Massimo Dutti; high-waist black trousers; and chunky-heel, pointed-toe pumps. Kate accessorized her look with a protective floral-print face mask, courtesy of Amaia Kids. Kate opted for a pared down approach for her accessories for the outing, wearing her customized gold pendant necklace that features the initials of her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Some Derby students spotted the duchess as she made her way onto campus ahead of her meeting. "The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, made me late for my lecture," quipped one who shared a clip of Kate walking through campus.

Per an official press release, the duchess spoke with first-year students, sports society members, and nursing students about the effects the global pandemic has had on them and their schoolwork, and how the university is working to support its student body.

The duchess's visit comes ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10. Along with her husband, Prince William, Kate has remained a vocal advocate for discussing mental health over the years. Just this year, the couple, influenced by the COVID-19 crisis, launched Our Frontline, a mental health initiative specifically tailored to emergency workers and hospital staff battling the pandemic.

Bianca Betancourt is the culture editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, where she covers all things film, TV, music, and more. When she's not writing, she loves impulsively baking a batch of cookies, re-listening to the same early-2000s pop playlist, and stalking Mariah Carey's Twitter feed.