The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has made a significant and emotional return to public life, delivering her first major speech in nearly two years at The Future Workforce Summit in London.
A Royal Return and a Powerful Message
Addressing a gathering of 80 top business leaders at the Salesforce Tower on November 18, the 43-year-old royal called for a fundamental shift in corporate priorities. She passionately argued that "time and tenderness" are just as crucial as profit and success, emphasising the need for workplaces to safeguard wellbeing.
This appearance marks a major milestone for Catherine, her first public speech since her cancer diagnosis following major abdominal surgery at the start of last year. After months of gruelling chemotherapy and announcing she was in remission in January, the Princess has been gradually resuming her public duties.
The Case for Investing in Our Earliest Years
At the heart of her address was the mission of her Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood, which hosted the summit. The Princess spoke from a deeply held belief, stating, "the love we feel in our earliest years fundamentally shapes who we become and how we thrive as adults."
She challenged the executives in the room, saying, "Imagine a world where each of these environments were built on valuing time and tenderness just as much as productivity and success." She firmly asserted that profitability and positive social impact are not mutually exclusive.
The event also saw the publication of a new report, "The Human Advantage", prepared by Deloitte. The report explores how, as AI handles more technical tasks, competitive advantage will rely on human skills. It revealed that while 81% of business leaders foresee a greater need for these skills, few connect them to investments in early childhood.
Broad Support and a Personal Touch
The summit, hosted by broadcaster Mishal Husain, featured a diverse range of speakers, including former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate and rapper Professor Green, a collaborator on Kate's Shaping Us campaign.
In a personal moment, the Princess thanked Christian Guy, Director of the Centre for Early Childhood, for "holding the fort, particularly over the last couple of years," acknowledging the support during her difficult health journey.
The Business Taskforce, featuring members like Richard Walker of Iceland Foods and Dame Amanda Blanc of Aviva, produced a report last year outlining that investment in early childhood could benefit the nation by an estimated £45.5 billion.
So committed was the Princess to the cause that, according to reports, she chose to stay for the afternoon session after a private lunch to hear taskforce members discuss their ongoing work, demonstrating her profound dedication to placing early childhood at the heart of the UK business community.
