The Duchess of Cambridge has been named as the patron of four organisations, as she steps up her royal duties.
Kate has accepted honorary positions with a range of charities and bodies that tackle issues from drug and alcohol addiction to children with behavioural problems and other areas of importance.
The royal is now patron of Action on Addiction and the National Portrait Gallery, and royal patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices and The Art Room, said St James's Palace.
The Duchess, who turns 30 on Monday, will also become a volunteer with the Scout Association, joining activities privately with groups in north Wales and other areas.
The organisations were personally chosen by Kate and reflect her interests and issues she wants to highlight.
Juli Beattie, founder and director of The Art Room, summed up the feelings of all the bodies when she said having the royal as a figurehead would make an enormous difference.
The campaigner, whose organisation uses art therapy to help children with issues like low self esteem and Asperger's syndrome, said: "We're absolutely delighted, we're overwhelmed and thrilled.
"This is just fantastic, it will raise the profile of the charity and get people to see the work we are doing."
Kate will also become an Occasional Helper with the Scout Association, a role sometimes taken on by the parents of children in the organisation.
The Duchess, who as a young girl was a brownie with Girlguiding UK, will volunteer with younger members of the Association - beaver and cub scouts -based around her home in north Wales and other areas.
Bear Grylls, UK chief scout who led a party of 200 scouts to the Cambridges wedding in April last year, said the fact Kate had decided to take time out of her busy life to help out was "inspiring".
"I just know that the Duchess will love the buzz that young scouts always bring to their communities and their adventures, and there are few greater joys than being part of empowering young lives through the simple principles of Scouting: fun, friendship, faith and family," he said.
Kate's organisations will formally be invited to join the Princes' Charities Forum, an initiative started by William and Harry in 2006 to bring together their charitable interests.