Kate Middleton wears a pink Marks and Spencer suit to talk

The Duchess of Cambridge gave the keynote address at the Royal Foundation’s Early Years Forum, joining the event by video conference.

The forum coincides with Duchess Kate’s publication of the results of her ‘Big 5’ survey, which focuses on the early childhood sector and under-5s in particular. A press release called the research “a defining moment for her work on the importance of early childhood in shaping the rest of our lives and broader societal outcomes.” The survey impressively garnered over half a million responses.

To deliver her opening speech, Kate Middleton wore a pink Marks and Spencer suit. She wore the stunning costume in March during an in-person visit to the London Ambulance Service 111 control room with Prince William.

Read the Duchess of Cambridge’s speech in full:

Over the past nine months, the pandemic has been a worrying time for all of us. We have experienced isolation, loss and uncertainty.

But in the midst of this crisis, we have also seen tremendous acts of kindness, generosity and empathy.

The pandemic has reminded us how much we value life in a world where people care about each other and the importance of feeling connected to the people around us.

And it is these connections, these relationships that are founded in the first years of our life.

People often ask me why I care so passionately about early childhood. Many mistakenly believe that my interest comes from having my own children.

Although I do care a lot about their start in life, it ends up selling the problem in the short term.

Parenthood is not a prerequisite for understanding the importance of the early years.

If we expect people to only care about the early years when they have children, we are not only too late for them, we are underestimating the huge role others can play in shaping our years. the most formative.

Over the past decade, like many of you, I have met people from all walks of life.

I have seen that experiences like homelessness, addiction and poor mental health are often rooted in difficult childhood.

But I also saw how the positive protective factors in the early years can play a vital role in shaping our future as well.

And I care a lot about that.

Because science shows that the first few years are more crucial to future health and happiness than any other time in our lives.

Because up to 40% of our children will arrive at school with lower levels of development than expected;

And because the social cost of late intervention has been estimated at over £ 17 billion per year.

The early years are therefore not only about how we raise our children.

They are really about how we are raising the next generation of adults.

They concern the society that we will become.

That’s why I wanted to start a company-wide conversation to hear what people across the UK thought about the early years as well.

I was honored that over half a million people answered the Big 5 Questions survey, showing how much people wanted to talk about it.

We combined these findings with national research and a COVID-lockdown investigation.

And together, this represents the largest study ever in the UK of the early years.

This collective knowledge is essential. And the questions they pose will help guide our work in the years to come.

First, if parents find it difficult to prioritize their own well-being, how can we best support them?

Second, what explains why parents feel so judged?

Third, how can we tackle parental loneliness, which has increased dramatically during the pandemic, especially in the most disadvantaged areas?

And finally, if less than a quarter of us understand the unique importance of a child’s first five years, what can we do to make it better known?

We must do everything in our power to tackle these issues and to enhance the importance of early childhood, so that together we can build a more nurturing society.

Because I believe the early years should be up to the other great social challenges and opportunities of our time.

And next year, we’ll announce ambitious plans to support that goal.

My last message is a thank you.

Thank you to all families, parents and caregivers, for the important work you do every day to raise our children.

And thank you to those of you who are working to support these families and their children too. What you do takes hard work, commitment, and vision.

It is a brave thing to believe in an outcome – even in a world – that might not be fully felt for a generation or more.

But what you are doing is not for the quick win – it’s for the big win.

It is for a happier and healthier society and for happier and healthier children.

It is only by working together that we can make lasting changes for generations to come.

Because I truly believe that big change starts small.

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