Princess Kate, 41, has widened her mission to promote early childhood development by launching the Business Taskforce for Early Childhood, targeting business and finance leaders. The Princess of Wales is extending her focus beyond academic and mental health experts, who she has been working with for the last decade, and now aims to involve business professionals. She hosted the first meeting of this new taskforce at NatWest bank's London headquarters.
The Business Taskforce for Early Childhood follows Kate's recent launch of the Shaping Us campaign, which seeks to transform early childhood development into a strategically important issue. Kate believes that the first five years of a child's life hold the key to their long-term health and well-being. The taskforce will play an essential role in her efforts to prioritize and support children and their environments during these crucial years.
In her speech at the event, Kate highlighted the importance of the first five years in a child's life and the impact of their environment on their development. She said, "This, however, is not just about supporting children in the earliest years of their lives. It is also about building healthy communities in which they can grow. Because the healthy development of our children relies on healthy adults. So this is why we all have a part to play."
The Princess of Wales encouraged influential business leaders to support the societal change required and emphasized the importance of businesses' role in protecting social ecosystems. She compared early childhood to climate change, urging the business world to treat it with the same seriousness.
Kate's new taskforce includes major UK firms such as NatWest, Unilever, Aviva, Deloitte, IKEA, Co-op, The LEGO Group, and Iceland. The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales' Chief Executive, Amanda Berry, applauded the involvement of business leaders in placing early childhood at the heart of their organizations. She said, "Businesses play a key role within society and with their huge reach to their employees, consumer and the wider community, their involvement can have a transformative impact on the health and happiness of generations to come."
Dame Alison Rose, NatWest Group Chief Executive, echoed the sentiment, stating, "This is a critical issue for the future growth and success of our businesses, our economy and our society." She highlighted the importance of the private sector in providing support and resources for young children and their carers to thrive.
By creating the Business Taskforce for Early Childhood, Kate Middleton aims to bring together a wealth of experience from the private sector to affect long-term change and ensure the well-being of future generations.
