Kate Middleton worked from home on an early childhood project hailed as her “life’s work” while recovering from abdominal surgery.
The Princess of Wales, 42, launched the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood (RFCEC) Shaping Us project in January last year, aiming to highlight the importance of children’s early childhood development.
Kensington Palace has confirmed that Kate continues to work on the project while recovering at home; The Center has funded a trial of a baby observation tool for health visitors to monitor the social and emotional development of young people.
The princess personally suggested the tool could be used in Britain after seeing a similar system during a royal visit to Denmark, according to reports – meaning she is very invested in the trial and its results, which are due to be published today.
The news she is kept informed of suggests that she may be preparing to return to work as planned; Kensington Palace has said since January that she was “unlikely to return to public duties before Easter”.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, attending a Shaping Us event with the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood in November last year. The project is considered his “life’s work”
The princess was last seen on royal duty in December as she attended the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church alongside the rest of the royal family.
William and Kate at the launch of the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood’s Shaping Us campaign in January 2023
The project was launched with a claymation film (above) which highlighted the importance of early childhood development in young children.
William referenced Kate’s passion for early childhood development during a visit to Sheffield on Tuesday (above), noting that she should be “sitting here” for the discussions.
“The Princess was kept informed throughout the process,” a Kensington Palace spokesperson told the Telegraph of the Royal Foundation’s project.
The comment is the first the palace has made on Kate’s work in her early years since she underwent abdominal surgery scheduled for early 2024.
Today, the RFCEC is expected to publish the results of a study carried out in two NHS trusts which trialled the early childhood development tool.
He had asked health visitors to use a type of monitoring aid known as the Alarm Distress Baby Scale, which records indicators such as eye contact, facial expressions and activity levels to help experts to understand how babies express themselves.
Those who have used it have reportedly expressed enthusiasm and support for how it helps them understand babies’ behavior and development.
According to the Princess’s Foundation, the vast majority of Danish municipalities are trained in the use of the Alarm Distress Baby Scale – at least 82 out of 98 – so that any signs of developmental problems can be identified quickly and treated.
Launching the campaign in January 2023, Kate said: “At its core, the campaign aims to highlight the crucial importance of early childhood and how it shapes the adults we become.
“During this time we lay the foundations and building blocks of life. And that’s when we learn to understand ourselves, understand others, and understand the world in which we live.
“That’s why it’s critical not only to understand the unique importance of our early years, but also to know what we can all do to help raise future generations of happy, healthy adults.”
Its glittering inaugural event brought together an army of celebrity supporters, including Rochelle Humes, Professor Green, Fearne Cotton and England women’s captain Leah Williamson.
William made a gentle reference to his wife’s passion project as he visited a housing project in Sheffield on Tuesday – noting she should be ‘sitting here’ for discussions as they turn to childcare .
Holding out his palms and smiling, he said, “I am venturing into my wife’s territory here. She must be sitting here to hear that.
William continued his frontline royal duties yesterday as he visited the Welsh Guards barracks in Windsor to hear about plans to rehabilitate soldiers returning from active service.
The Queen represented the monarch at a public engagement on the Isle of Man on Wednesday, and the king was photographed leaving his London residence days after Russian media reported a false claim claiming he had died.
Kate visited several childcare projects across the country last year – pictured here at the Windsor Family Hub in June last year.
The Princess at Sebby’s Corner, a north London family charity, last November; the charity is a beneficiary of the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood
The Prince of Wales continued to carry out his royal duties by visiting the Welsh Guards barracks in Windsor on Wednesday.
The Queen represented the monarch on a visit to the Isle of Man, where she presented letters conferring town status on the Borough of Douglas on the island.
King Charles was pictured leaving Clarence House on Wednesday – days after Russian media reported a false claim claiming he had died.
The news that Kate continues to be briefed on her project comes after she took a step back from her public duties, including those related to the Foundation, after undergoing planned surgery for a non-cancer illness in January.
The princess has spent most of the year out of the public eye following her latest engagement to attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church with the rest of the royal family.
She was only recently seen in public – apart from a handful of paparazzi photos – at the Windsor Farm store last weekend, happily walking alongside William in the car park.
Neighbors say the couple were there often in recent weeks as Kate’s recovery continued – but their absence from public life, coupled with the recent scandal over her manipulated Mother’s Day photo, have fueled cruel theories of conspiracy.
And confirmation she continues to work behind the scenes comes as an investigation is launched into claims Kate’s medical records were accessed by staff at the London Clinic, where she underwent surgery in January.
Three staff members have reportedly been suspended in connection with the alleged attempt to gain unauthorized access to the princess’ private information.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman Rishi Sunak urged the British public to “support her” as she continues to recover.