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Kate Middleton Delivers Heartfelt Keynote Speech: ‘No One Chooses to Become an Addict’

Kate Middleton is spreading awareness in honor of the U.K.’s Addiction Awareness Week.

Early Tuesday, the Duchess of Cambridge helped launch The Forward Trust’s “Taking Action on Addiction” campaign at BAFTA in London. Per the organization, the new initiative “will work to improve awareness and understanding of addiction, its causes and scale in society to enable more people to ask for and receive help.”

During the event, the 39-year-old delivered a powerful keynote speech, which was also shared on the official Instagram account of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

“Addiction is not a choice. No one chooses to become an addict, but it can happen to any one of us. None of us are immune. Yet it’s all too rarely discussed as a serious mental health condition. And seldom do we take the time to uncover and fully understand its fundamental root causes,” Middleton said. “The journey towards addiction is often multi-layered and complex. But, by recognizing what lies beneath addiction, we can help remove the taboo and shame that sadly surrounds it. As a society, we need to start from a position of compassion and empathy, where we nurture those around us, understand their journey and what has come before them.”

Middleton continued, “We need to value and prioritize care and support, helping to restore and connect individuals, who are clearly suffering, to the people around them. That is why I am so passionate about the work of @TheForwardTrust, an organization I am so proud to be a patron of. This is the work that you, and many other charities, provide day in, day out. And it is needed now, more than ever.”

In addition to her impressive speech, the duchess also looked the part. For the occassion, the mother of three sported a long red turtleneck dress with a pair of brown heels and a beige purse.

Keep spreading the word, Kate.

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