Ahead of the launch of Kate's early years campaign tomorrow, the Prince and Princess of Wales stepped out for a glamorous pre-campaign engagement hosted by the Royal Foundation at BAFTA, London.
The event kicks off what is expected to be a busy week filled with engagements and appearances to mark the unveiling of 'Shaping Us'. Tomorrow, Kate will share her plans against the backdrop of long-scheduled visits highlighting the importance of a child's first five years. It has been reported a host of influential figures from media, music and sport will join the Princess, with social media considered a key element of the campaign.
On the grapevine, there's a growing rumour Kate recorded a podcast episode with Giovanna Fletcher (with whom she spoke during 5 Big Questions) and presenter and author Fearne Cotton. Both ladies were present tonight.
Kate with Fearne.
Shaping Us was revealed on Saturday night. In an open letter, the Princess wrote: "During our very early childhood, our brains develop at an amazing rate – faster than at any other time. Our experiences, relationships, and surroundings at that young age, shape the rest of our lives. It is a time where we lay the foundations and building blocks for life. It is when we learn to understand ourselves, understand others and understand the world in which we live. But as a society, we currently spend much more of our time and energy on later life. I am absolutely determined that this long-term campaign is going to change that. It will start by highlighting how we develop during early childhood and why these years matter so much in terms of shaping who we become.
"We all need to know the critical importance of our early childhood. They really are years like no other in our lives. I urge everyone reading this, to take the opportunity to learn more about this incredible time of life, to think back to your own childhood and how it shaped you, and most importantly, to ask yourselves what you can do to make the world a more supportive and loving place for our children. Because healthy, happy children shape a healthy, happy future."
Presenter and former member of popular UK girl band the Saturdays delivered a speech. Other familiar faces included Professor Green and England football captain Leah Williamson.
The evening was compered by Kate Silverton and a Q&A session took place between Eamon McCrory, Professor of Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology, University College London, and Dr Guddi Singh, a paediatrician and campaigner.
'Rochelle Humes brought her nine-year-old daughter Alaina Mai Humes to the event and joked the youngster had said about Kate: “She’s got the best hair.”
Humes spoke about her childhood being brought up by just her mother, and ended her speech by saying: “Everyone in society needs the very best for every child, because if every child realises their full potential we’ll have a society that is infinitely better off than the one we have today.”
The campaign film was screened at the event.
Kate delivered her first speech in her role as Princess of Wales.
The Princess outlinined the goal for Shaping Us: "The campaign is fundamentally about shining a spotlight on the critical importance of early childhood and how it shapes the adults we become. During this time we lay the foundations and building blocks for life. And it is when we learn to understand ourselves, understand others and understand the world in which we live."
The Princess of Wales, accompanied by her husband, has been to an event at @BAFTA tonight ahead of the launch of Shaping Us, her new campaign to change the way Britain raises its children. pic.twitter.com/uZOB7idLdz
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) January 30, 2023
Kate's speech in its entirety:
'This week sees the launch of our new awareness raising campaign, Shaping Us. The campaign is fundamentally about shining a spotlight on the critical importance of early childhood and how it shapes the adults we become.
During this time we lay the foundations and building blocks for life. It is when we learn to understand ourselves, understand others and understand the world in which we live. This is why it is essential, to not only understand the unique importance of our earliest years, but to know what we can all do to help raise future generations of happy, healthy adults.
Shaping Us is a long-term campaign, and we’re starting by highlighting how we develop during early childhood and why these years matter so much in terms of shaping who we become. As the campaign progresses, we will explore in more depth the importance of a child’s social and emotional world, the significance of relationships, and the impact of the surroundings and experiences a child is exposed to during these formative years. Together these play a key role in shaping our future lives. Yet they rarely get as much focus as our physical health and cognitive development.
And of course, by understanding our own childhoods – what has shaped our own beliefs, relationships, behaviours and feelings – we, as adults, are better placed to play our part in positively shaping future generations.
Those involved in raising children today need the very best of information and support in helping to achieve this mission – and this campaign aims to help do that too.
I want to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to so many of you in this room, for your ongoing work in this area. Thank you for the years of dedication and your unfailing determination to advocate for and improve the lives of the very youngest members of our society.
And thank you also to many of you in this room this evening, for your personal support to me in helping me develop my thinking and work on this issue over the years. As you all know, by building a supportive, nurturing world around children and those caring for them, we can make a huge difference to generations to come.
Because fundamentally healthy, happy children shape a healthy, happy future'.
Prince William is President of BAFTA, and their glamorous Central London location offered an elegant backdrop for the occasion.
More on the building's background:
'Housed in an historic Grade II Listed building in the heart of London’s West End, BAFTA 195 Piccadilly is a truly world-class space, providing innovative state-of-the-art facilities for all event needs, whether live, virtual or hybrid.
No stranger to red carpet glamour and making dreams become a reality, the five floors of BAFTA 195 Piccadilly offer 1,600 square metres of incredible, flexible, creative spaces; presenting a spectacular way to wow guests.'
The Princess Anne Theatre is considered one of the "most technologically advanced screening facilities in the world", boasting a commanding stage, luxurious armchair style seating, ample leg room, comfort cooling temperature controlled air conditioning and perfect sightlines from every seat.
Red is a fantastic colour on Kate. I've been waiting for her to debut a red trouser suit and tonight was the perfect occasion for it. For such an important event, the Princess turned to Alexander McQueen for the appropriately 'Welsh Red' ensemble. Kate sported McQueen's Leaf Crepe Drop Hem blazer. The piece is finished with a single button fastening.
With thanks to UFO No More, the blazer is teamed with McQueen's Narrow Bootcut Trousers, which feature side pockets and a back jet pocket. The sharply tailored look is available at My Theresa.
Kate wore her fabulous statement CHALK earrings. The Florence style is available for £75.
More from the product description:
'Ornate obsession overload. The Florence Earrings are inspired by the auditorium ceiling of the Royal Opera House in Central London. A beautiful neutral pair with gold, bronze and regency green tones.
Chalk Jewelry, by architect Malaika Carr creates unusual, geometric, jewelry all handmade by Malaika in her London based studio. Chalk's collections are influenced by architectural elements, everyday objects and bold colorful, cultural patterns. Materials are sourced from small UK based shops.'
It looks like Kate wore her red suede Gianvito Rossi pumps.
I'll see you tomorrow!