Princess of Wales launches new early years campaign focused on improving outcomes for children

T?he Princess of Wales has spoken about the importance of her new early childhood campaign, stressing the need to understand how the first few years of life can drastically impact adulthood.

In a speech, Catherine said? it was essential to "know what we can all do to help raise future generations of happy, healthy adults".

The 41-year-old was speaking at a pre-campaign event on Monday evening (Tuesday morning AEDST) ahead of the launch of the Shaping Us campaign.

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The Prince of Wales accompanied Kate to the event which was attended by members of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early?Childhood's Advisory Group and representatives from the early years sector.??

Kate stood out in head-to-toe red, wearing a? new Alexander McQueen crepe suit in 'Welsh red', an appropriate nod to her and William's titles.

Undoubtedly the outfit will evoke comparisons to the Duchess of Sussex, who wore a similar look in September at the One Young World? summit in Manchester.

Kate and William's appearance marked the first of several engagements this week to promote her new initiative.

Shaping Us aims to increase?public understanding of the crucial importance the first five years of a child's life.

It is the latest step in Kate's pioneering work into the early years and childhood development, which has become the main focus of her royal career.

In her speech, the Princess of Wales said: ?"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.

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"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."

A 90-second animation charting the experiences of a young girl from birth to her fifth birthday was screened at the event.

The campaign marks the first major announcement from The Royal Foundation's Centre for Early Childhood, which was launched by Kate in 2021.

The first part of the program was ?"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, she said, other areas will be looked at including "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".

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Kate added: "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 ¨C what has shaped our own beliefs, relationships, behaviours and feelings ¨C we, as adults, are better placed to play our part in positively shaping future generations.?"

She said those involved in raising children need the best information and support ?to "achieve this mission".

Over the weekend, Kate wrote an open letter ?warning too much "time and energy" is spent on later life. She said she was "absolutely determined" to shift the focus to the early years.

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