The Royal Family is more than just a family, it’s an institution with lineage and traditions tracing back hundreds of years. As times have changed, monarchs have had to gradually adapt with the world – and perhaps none more so than today. While Queen Elizabeth II was famed for being stoic and somewhat traditional in her approach to her rule, King Charles has already taken steps to modernise his own (such as appearing on bank notes without a crown).
However it’s the next royal era – led by The Prince and Princess of Wales – which is expected to bring in the biggest step towards modernity. Already, there’s one project in particular which demonstrates the way The Princess of Wales is ‘listening and willing to adapt’ her approach, says the royal expert behind The Crown Chronicles, Victoria Howard. That project is The Princess’ Early Childhood work.
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The Princess of Wales meeting children at a school in Croydon, in February.
In 2021, Kate launched an initiative close to her heart, The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which raises awareness and drives action around the important early years in children’s lives. This work marks a change in the way the royals have traditionally approached causes in the past, which has involved putting their support behind existing organisations and charities.
‘I think [the foundation] is a really great example of how Catherine saw there was a problem and wanted to do something about it,’ says Victoria. ‘She’s built that from the ground up. Rather than putting her name to existing causes, she started a whole movement herself.’
The Princess made sure she did her homework by bringing together top voices and the latest studies to inform her project, and has even launched her own research.
‘What Kate’s doing is partnering with academics and leading experts on topics like early years to make sure things are backed by science,’ says Victoria. ‘It began with a big survey about parents and wider public’s attitudes towards childhood and raising children and then it developed from there. It took the data from people’s opinions on this topic, got experts together with the known data and science and then used that to decide the next steps.’
The next steps included The Princess of Wales’ Shaping Us campaign, which focuses on the importance of the first five years of a child’s life and the impact it can have on their future and development. The Centre For Early Childhood produced an educational film explaining the concept, which you can watch here:
Victoria also credits Prince William’s support for the environment through his award, the Earthshot Prize, and says it shows the future King and Queen are ‘listening and willing to adapt’ their approach as royals.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Earthshot Prize Awards 2022 in Boston.
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The Prince of Wales on a panel talk at an Earthshot Prize Innovation Camp in 2024, alongside Hannah Waddingham.
‘Earthshot, for example, that’s bringing together lots of different organisations who are doing fantastic work. William’s name gets the word out there to showcase the fantastic stuff that’s going on, while supporting projects that are doing environmental good with funding and money.’
Winners in each of the five categories of the Earthshot Prize receive £1 million in funding towards their projects, to help them make a positive difference to the planet.
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