Kate Middleton delivered a powerful speech at the Shaping Us National Symposium in London on Wednesday, November 15, outlining her vision for creating long-term change to support early childhood development.
Described by aides as the Princess of Wales’s biggest speech yet on this cause close to her heart, Kate made an impassioned call for global action.
Kate Middleton speech at the Shaping Us National Symposium
Speaking at the event hosted by her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, Kate explained her motivation for prioritizing the earliest years of life.
“I care deeply about making a positive difference, in helping the most vulnerable and supporting those who are most in need,” she stated.
The princess went on to emphasize that supporting early childhood is not only about helping young infants but also has an impact on adolescents and adults. As she highlighted,
“This is not just about the youngest children in our society, who are, by their very nature, vulnerable…it is also about the many young people and adults who are suffering.”
Outlining a Manifesto for Societal Change
At the core of Kate’s speech was a desire to create real, long-lasting change to the systems and structures that shape early childhood. “It isn’t enough therefore to simply wish for a better world,” the princess asserted.
“We must acknowledge and address the root cause of some of today’s toughest social challenges and work together to find better answers.”
She called for prioritizing both the physical and emotional development of children in their earliest years.
Kate explained that nurturing inner skills like self-awareness, managing emotions, communication, and relationships is just as critical as academic skills.
The princess concluded with a rallying cry for societal change, stating:
“It is therefore time we understood that building a healthier world means nurturing the foundations that support our children.”
Global Collaboration for Change
Kate’s speech signals her ambition to advance this cause on a global scale. Her Royal Foundation has already brought together experts from 21 countries to conduct new research on early childhood development.
The Shaping Us National Symposium further underscored Kate’s commitment to international collaboration. It convened specialists from diverse disciplines to build consensus on the key skills children need to develop.
While Kate has faced some criticism that raising awareness is not enough, her impassioned speech emphasized the need for real action.
By outlining a manifesto for change, Kate’s lifelong work on early childhood continues to gain momentum and urgency.