Kate launches her childhood crusade

THE Duchess of Cambridge has set up a Centre for Early Childhood, signalling her commitment to transforming society.

It will drive her vision for a “happier, healthier, more nurturing world”.

The future Queen is said to feel a responsibility to take on a leadership role to raise awareness and create action.

A royal aide said Kate believes “the more you learn about the science of early childhood – whether it’s brain development, social science [or] what it means for our adult mental health – the more you realise that this is the social equivalent to climate change.

“But it is not discussed with the same seriousness or strategic intent”.

Kate, wearing a necklace of her children’s initials, said in a video launch: “The centre hopes to raise awareness of why the first five years of life are just so important for our future life outcomes, and what we can do as a society to embrace this golden opportunity to create a happier, more mentally healthy, more nurturing society.

“We can change the way we think about early childhood, and transform lives for generations to come.”

The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood will employ six staff at the Cambridges’ foundation in London, funded by foundation supporters.

Challenges

The crusade follows research which shows adult social challenges such as addiction, violence, family breakdown, homelessness and mental ill-health have their roots in the earliest years.

The centre will focus on research, developing solutions with public and private voluntary sectors and on campaigns to raise awareness. Its website will showcase initiatives, highlight research and be an information platform.

A royal aide described the milestone moment for Kate as “a big mission and vision but we’re going to be grounded in some really tangible, practical actions”.

Work will include finding ways to engage teenagers with the science of early brain development, so they are aware should they become parents.

The initiative was borne out of Kate’s decade-long work as a royal, looking at addiction, family breakdown and mental ill-health then going back to “get to the real root of the problem,” the aide said.

Lord Hague, chairman of the foundation, said Kate and it “are determined to help bring about lasting change”.

YouGov research out today – last day of Loneliness Awareness Week – said parents of young children felt more alone in the pandemic: nine per cent felt always or often lonely last October but that had risen to 16 per cent last month.