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Emails appearing to show contact between Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein have emerged where the royal is believed to have told the paedophile to ‘keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon’

Prince Andrew was still emailing his paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein two months after he claimed to have broken off contact, according to court papers.

The newly disclosed documents led to fresh calls from Epstein’s victims for Andrew to be quizzed by the FBI. The Duke of York insisted he severed ties with Epstein in December 2010 after a now-infamous meeting in New York’s Central Park. But an email exchange from February 2011 appears to contradict this.

It shows Andrew, 64, saying to the financier: “Keep in close touch, and we’ll play some more soon!!!!” One woman who was abused by Epstein when she was a teenager told the Mirror: “Another example of powerful men apparently thinking they can lie and get away with it.

Prince Andrew claimed to have cut contact with Epstein in 2010 ( 
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Jeffrey Epstein took his own life in 2019 ( 
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“For years, your prince has insisted that he cut ties with Epstein in 2010, but these emails seem to prove that was a fabrication. It’s time for him to stop hiding and finally answer questions under oath.”

US lawyer Spencer Kuvin, who represents several of Epstein’s victims, said: “Andrew continues to be an embarrassment to his family.” The email was uncovered in a filing by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, which is defending an appeal by former Barclays boss Jes Staley. In 2023, the American, 68, was fined and banned from management positions for misleading regulators about his ties to Epstein.

In Andrew’s notorious 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, he categorically denied having any contact with Epstein after their December 2010 meeting. He told Emily Maitlis: “By mutual agreement, during that walk in the park, we decided that we would part company, and I left, I think it was the next day. And to this day, I never had any contact with him from that day forward.”

Other files released in separate proceedings yesterday revealed Andrew’s private secretary admitted to an alleged Chinese spy that the interview had been a “disaster.” Dominic Hampshire told Yang Tengbo, a Chinese businessman now banned from the UK over espionage concerns: “We have dealt with the ­aftermath of an ill-advised and unsuccessful interview.”

Epstein was found dead in a Manhattan jail in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. One of the financier’s victims, Virginia Giuffre, accused Andrew of sleeping with her on three occasions. The Duke vehemently denied her allegations, later agreeing to pay his accuser a reported £12million in an out-of-court settlement. He was contacted for comment.

King Charles III is starring in an Amazon Prime documentary about the planet – and filming has reportedly started already

It has been revealed that King Charles will appear in a one-off documentary that will air on Amazon Prime Video.

Filming for King Charles’s feature-length Amazon special reportedly began earlier this month at Dumfries House, which is a beautiful estate situated on 2,000 acres of land in Scotland.

King Charles is starring in an upcoming documentary ( 
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Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A Palace source told The Times: “The King is greatly looking forward to seeing how the Harmony concept can be communicated to a new and international audience, using some of the best creative talents in TV.”

They added: “It’s astonishing, really, what has been put into practice since publication of the original book 15 years ago, and how many of those pioneering ideas have been adopted in differing ways.

“This is a chance to ‘show, not tell’ how they can transform people, places, and ultimately the planet. I think many will be genuinely amazed at the scale, scope and vision of it all, for which Dumfries House continues to be the ‘living laboratory’.”

The Palace has also been contacted by The Mirror for comment.

According to reports, several platforms were consulted before Amazon was given the final seal of approval. The film is set to be broadcast towards the end of 2025 or at the start of next year.

It’s a big move for the palace, which has previously collaborated with the BBC and ITV on documentaries featuring members of the royal family.

Meghan Markle’s new show drops in March
The news of the documentary comes weeks after his daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, confirmed she was launching a cooking show on Amazon’s rival, Netflix. Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, have a multimillion-dollar deal with the streaming giant.

In 2022, they made a six-part docuseries called Harry & Meghan, which documented their lives in California after they stepped down as senior members of the royal family.

The documentary addresses Harry’s family and the scrutiny the couple faced from the global media when Meghan married into the family.

In one scene, the Duke of Sussex says: “There can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who fits the mould, as opposed to somebody who you perhaps are destined to be with.”

Meghan and Harry reside in the US ( 
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(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images))He was talking about how he first met Meghan and their instant chemistry. Harry added: “The difference between making decisions with your head, or your heart. My mum certainly made most of her decisions, if not all of them from her heart. And I am my mother’s son.”

The documentary was met with a mixed response from viewers, but it has not deterred Meghan from making another show for the streamer.

Her upcoming series, named With love, Meghan, is due to be released in March. It was meant to be released earlier this year, but it was pushed back following the dreadful wildfires in California.

The Princess Royal is beloved for her no-nonsense approach to her role and work – and she previously opened up about why royal life is so different for other members of the family

Princess Anne is widely loved for her low-key approach, with her numerous official engagements often flying under the radar due to her preference for minimal media fuss.

Reflecting on her decades of service in a candid interview for her 70th birthday in 2020, Princess Anne shared insights into the evolving nature of royal life, particularly highlighting the challenges faced by today’s younger royals like the Princess of Wales.

In the documentary ‘Anne: The Princess Royal at 70’, which aired to commemorate her milestone birthday, she empathised with the newer generation of working royals, acknowledging the intensified scrutiny they face, exacerbated by the relentless pace of social media.

Princess Anne opened up about her experiences ( 
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She commented on the stark contrast between her early days and the current climate, saying, “The pressure that is applied to the younger members of the family, it’s always worse. That’s what the media is interested in. That’s hard sometimes to deal with. But there was no social media in my day, and it’s probably made it more difficult.”

Princess Anne also mused on the impact of digital communication, noting its limitations compared to personal interactions: “With online technology… being in touch is one thing but it’s not quite the same. The ability to meet people, that’s what makes the difference. I know what Twitter is, but I wouldn’t go anywhere near it if you paid me frankly. But that’s a slightly different issue.”

Other notable figures also appeared in the documentary, paying tribute to the Princess’ tireless commitment to her role. Lord Sebastian Coe recalled a particularly amusing incident, saying: “The Princess Royal was on the big committee, and her contribution was seismic, and it was always to the point; she doesn’t always suffer fools gladly, and she doesn’t speak for the sake of speaking.

“I do remember after a rather long-winded interjection by one of the committee members she had actually forgotten to turn her microphone off and she did manage to utter the immortal words ‘I think this person is probably the most stupid person in world sport’.”

“This echoed absolutely around the room and she never flinched, it was as though it had never happened and we just moved on but it is probably one of my favourite moments.”

Princess Anne attended a special episode of a podcast ( 
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Princess Anne later teamed up with the Prince and Princess of Wales for a special episode of Mike Tindall’s The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast. Among the many special moments and sweet revelations, viewers witnessed a funny moment where the Princess and Kate both teamed up to poke fun at Prince William’s rugby skills.

He told the group: “I played at school. I loved it, and…” At this point Kate interrupts, looks her husband directly in the face and playfully asks: “Did you? Did you?” The group then fell about laughing with one co-host crying out to Kate: “You said you weren’t competitive!”

At this point, Anne interjects, saying, “That was just the question; never mind the answer!” To which William adds diplomatically that he is trying to be polite so will hold back on what he really wants to say about Kate.

When King Harald of Norway first met his wife Sonja, their love story was totally ‘forbidden’ and for nearly a decade, their romance threatened to destroy the monarchy itself

King Harald of Norway has been married to his wife Queen Sonja for an impressive 57 years – but when the couple first met, their romance was completely “forbidden”.

For nine years, their relationship was a point of serious controversy, so much so that some opponents of the couple claimed it posed an existential threat to the Norwegian monarchy itself. A new series is due to be released on Amazon Prime called Harald and Sonja, depicting the ‘scorned romance’ between the now-King and Queen, both 87, that nearly brought the Norwegian monarchy to its knees.

The series will be released on Valentine’s Day – which is a fitting date for a binge-watch for any romance fans, because as time would tell, nothing would keep these two star-crossed lovers apart. Harald, then Crown Prince of Norway, was supposed to marry someone from the same kind of high rank he had been born into, but when he met ‘commoner’ Sonja by chance at a dinner party, it was nothing less than “love at first sight”.

When they met in their early twenties, the pair were dining as guests of friend Johan Stenerse’s. The encounter in 1959 set them on a path that was not going to be easy, with Harald’s father, King Olav, fiercely opposing Sonja as a suitable match for his son, who was training at the Norwegian Military Academy at the time.

Sonja and Harald first met in 1959 ( 
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AFP via Getty Images)

Sonja’s father was a clothing merchant, and this was quickly deemed not to be an appropriate background for the partner of the Crown Prince – but no amount of opposition was going to put Harald off. When she met the Crown Prince, Sonja was studying English, French, and Art History at the University of Oslo, but the accomplished young woman already had a multitude of qualifications to her name, including attending a prestigious finishing school in Switzerland and a degree in dressmaking.

When King Olav found out that his son was dating Sonja, he insisted that they stop their budding romance and that Harald stop talking to Sonja altogether. However, within five years, rumours of the relationship became public, with reports appearing in the Norwegian media that they were an item.

The House of Glücksburg was so concerned about the reports that it even issued a statement saying there was no way the Crown Prince would ever marry a commoner. Over the years, the intense pressure the young couple was under due to all the opposition they faced caused them to reportedly break up several times, but they always found their way back together.

One major opponent was said to be none other than the Norwegian Prime Minister, Einar Gerhardsen, who believed Sonja’s background could even bring about a constitutional crisis of sorts.

The couple have now been married for 57 years ( 
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However, in 1965, Harald put his foot down, playing a hand that even King Olav couldn’t counter. He told his father that if he was not allowed to marry the woman he loved, he would refuse to marry altogether, which would mean the entire line of succession would have been put into jeopardy, and would have caused huge amounts of uncertainty to the monarchy itself.

This brave ultimatum was a key to the couple’s success – although it still took King Olav three more years to give the couple permission to marry – and Harald has reportedly said that patience was key to finally marrying the woman he loved, “We just kept waiting and hoping they’d all finally back down,” he explained to People magazine.

In 1968, the pair finally tied the knot, nearly a decade after they fell in love – and Olav had warmed up to the match so much he even walked Sonja down the aisle at the Oslo Cathedral, in front of hundreds of guests. Producers of the new drama for Prime have said the couple’s love story is like “something out of a fairy tale”.

The couple say it was ‘love at first sight’ ( 
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AFP via Getty Images)“Society took time to accept the new Crown Prince and Princess, but love would win in the end,” the producers said, adding: “Harald and Sonja has all the ingredients to become a major international viewer favorite for anyone who likes unique and genuine love stories”.

The new show follows in the footsteps of The Crown, which followed a dramatised version of the House of Windsor across decades and was a major hit for streaming giant Netflix.

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A thirsty builder once unknowingly asked the Queen for “a proper cup of tea” and “none of that nonsense I had last time”, according to a former member of the Palace staff

Working for the King and the Royal Family certainly has its perks. You can marvel at the likes of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or any other of the royal residences around the country. However, there is one person who was clearly not so impressed by the surroundings he found himself in while working there.

The brilliant story was revealed during the Channel 5 documentary, Secrets of the Royal Palaces, in which Queen Elizabeth II went entirely unnoticed by a builder as he made an unusual request. Royal upholsterer Kevin Andrews, recalled the story in the documentary, explaining: “[A] builder was dismantling a desk so he could not see who was making the offer when the lady’s voice asked him if he would like a cup of tea.”

A builder was on a job in Buckingham Palace when the tea incident occurred ( 
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The builder was completely unaware it was the Queen asking the question, and replied very casually. He reportedly answered back: “Yeah. In a mug. Two sugars. Builders’ tea. I don’t want any of that nonsense I had the last time I was here, all that fine china and all that saucer stuff.”

Andrews then remembered that the Queen came back with the tea and told the builder that it was on the table before saying he “looked up [he] saw the Queen leaving the room”.

The late monarch’s former butler Grant Harrold has given many insights into his time working for the Royal Family. He often addresses British etiquette and shares an insight into the late Queen’s personal habits – including exactly how she would take her tea.

Speaking about the late monarch’s preferred brands, Grant revealed: “I am sure the Queen enjoys her Assam or her Earl Grey the traditional way, made with tea leaves in a teapot and poured into a fine bone china teacup. She will also use a strainer. It is also a myth that members of royalty use their pinky when drinking, I have never seen that happen once.”

The late Queen undoubtedly found the incident amusing
Throughout the 70 years Queen Elizabeth II spent on the throne, she gained a reputation not only for her dedication to duty, but for her wicked sense of humour. Whether it was how she chose to cut a cake with a sword instead of a knife or her witty remark to a couple of American tourists who did not recognise her, the late Queen was renowned for her love of a joke.

And while the monarch was well-known for pulling her own fair share of pranks, she thoroughly enjoyed being told a good joke – especially when they had a naughty punchline. One such occasion saw her laughing away at an especially cheeky and rude joke so her aides stepped in and tried to stop her from listening to it!

An excellent story from a royal insider surfaced about the time Sir Donald Gosling told an incredibly crude joke about horses and how she reacted when an aide tried to stop her from hearing it.

A courtier recalled: “HM would relish seeing Don because she would know he always had a fresh supply of jokes, but his sense of humour was pretty salty.”

The insider recalled the funny moment during a naval ceremony when Mr Gosling was seated one place away from The Queen, with Labour Defence Secretary Fred Mulley in between them.

He said: “Don was in full flow telling her his latest joke – involving a horse trainer giving Viagra to a runner in the 2.30 at Newton Abbott. The Minister put up his hand and stopped Don, obviously thinking the Queen shouldn’t be exposed to such ribaldry.

“HM was furious – and berated poor Mulley for ruining the joke. She made Don tell the whole joke all over again, and shrieked with laughter at the punchline, which was about the horse winning against stiff competition, or something like that.”

Much like her brothers, Charlotte will get an important royal title one day – and the one in question has only been used seven times before

Several members of the Royal Family have hugely important official styles that date back centuries – whether it is the Prince of Wales or the Duchess of Edinburgh. Looking ahead to the future, three of King Charles’ grandchildren are expected to carry many different titles in their lifetimes, some of which hold huge historical and political importance.

And while it is likely that Prince George and Prince Louis will eventually take on some important senior royal titles, their sister Princess Charlotte is expected to carry a title that has significant ties to history.

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana was born on May 2, 2015, at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London and lives with her family at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate. The princess’s official title is Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Wales, and she sits third in line to the throne.

Princess Charlotte will get a new title when Prince William is king ( 
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When King Charles succeeded, Prince William became The Prince of Wales, and, as a result, his three young children’s last names changed from Cambridge to Wales.

As well as The The addition of Cornwall to the title comes from the most senior Dukedom which is held by the Prince of Wales. Following Prince William’s official ceremony, Princess Charlotte and her brothers will become Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis of Wales.

But looking even further ahead into the future, Princess Charlotte would be in line to inherit a historic title when Prince William is king.

The Princess Royal is typically the eldest daughter of the monarch and it works in much the same way as the Prince of Wales title for both senior and high-ranking members of the Royal Family. There have only been seven Princess Royals, the first of whom was Princess Mary, the eldest daughter of King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria.

Following Princess Mary, the other Princess Royals include Princess Louisa Maria (daughter of King James II and VII), Princess Anne (King George II), Princess Charlotte (King George III), Princess Victoria (Queen Victoria), Princess Louise (King Edward VII), Princess Mary (King George V) and Princess Anne (Queen Elizabeth II).

While the rights of primogeniture do come into play, the inheritance of the title is not guaranteed if the previous holder is still alive.

Princess Charlotte could get the title one day

Princess Anne currently holds the title
When King George V died his daughter Mary was still the Princess Royal, meaning that when King George VI came to the throne his daughter Princess Elizabeth could not inherit the title even though she would have been eligible to hold it.

Unlike other styles, when the Princess Royal dies the title is not automatically inherited by her eldest daughter, it instead goes back to the monarch to bestow it upon their own daughter, if they have one.

As King Charles has no daughters, it is likely the Princess Royal title will be held in suspension once Princess Anne passes away, but will be re-granted to Princess Charlotte once her father becomes king.

But Charlotte isn’t the only one of the Wales children who will see a major title change in their future. When Prince William is on the throne, Prince George will be eligible to become The Prince of Wales – making him the 28th incumbent, and, in all likelihood Prince Louis will be granted a senior Dukedom.

Osborne House was the favourite home of Queen Victoria. While other royals have visited the home in the past, it hasn’t been permanently lived in for many years

Over the centuries, the Royal Family have owned countless breath-taking properties across the UK. We know the most famous ones well as they are now home to the current generation of royals, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, but others are often forgotten.

While some are still in regular use – either as second homes or holiday destinations – a number of them have been sold off or repurposed into everything from restaurants to museums. One such home is Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Surprisingly, the late Queen never visited Osborne despite its royal connections and the fact that it was a favourite home of Queen Victoria. Despite this, other royals, such as Queen Camilla and The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, have spent time there.

Queen Victoria loved Osborne House ( 
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Osborne House was built between 1845 and 1851 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in East Cowes, Isle of Wight.

It was built in an Italian Renaissance style by Thomas Cubitt, which gives it a unique look very different to other royal properties. The master builder was responsible for creating the famous East Front and balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Prince Albert is said to have contributed heavily to the home’s design and enjoyed looking out across the Solent as it reminded him of the Bay of Naples. Queen Victoria herself said of Osborne: “It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot”.

The Royal Family would stay at Osborne for long periods of time every year – in May for Queen Victoria’s birthday, in July and August for the celebration of Prince Albert’s birthday and just before Christmas.

After the sad death of Prince Albert in 1861 from Typhoid Fever, Queen Victoria continued to visit the home for longer periods and more frequently as it was one of her favourite residences.

It was where she passed away on January 22, 1901. Following her death, her successor and son, King Edward VII donated Osborne House as a national gift to the state on the date of his coronation on August 9, 1902. This was done even though Queen Victoria had left strict instruction for Osborne to remain within the family.

Camilla was joined by Dame Judi Dench for a look round Osborne ( 
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2018 Getty Images)

The Queen Consort visited Osborne in 2018 ( 
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2018 Getty Images)The palatial home is no longer an active royal residence, it is a museum which belongs to English Heritage and is open to the public.

If you wish to visit the home, you can expect to see some of the most precious treasures from the royal collection and will have the opportunity to see the state rooms, family rooms, Queen Victoria’s private beach, the incredible gardens and Swiss Cottage – the playhouse of Victoria and Albert’s nine children.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (then the Earl and Countess of Wessex) examined Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s possessions when they went to Osborne in 2014. The Queen was also pictured there in 2018 with Victoria and Abdul actress Dame Judi Dench. The close friends were seen giggling and tucking into an ice cream while they stood on the private beach.

Princess Kate was about to drive away during a visit to a knitwear factory in Carmarthenshire when three-year-old Lily-Rose piped up, causing Kate to halt the royal convoy and come over to say hello

The mother has described the “surreal” moment that the Princess of Wales stopped her car and got out to talk to her daughter.

Princess Kate was out and about on a royal visit in Carmarthenshire when three-year-old Lily-Rose piped up, shouting “hello princess” in a bid to attract the royal’s attention.

The princess waved back at the tot before jogging over to say hello and Lily-Rose, bizarrely, handed her a banana. “I heard you say ‘hello’ from all the way back there and I wanted to come and see you,” Kate told the toddler as she shook her hand, adding: “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Princess Kate stopped to talk after the three-year-old shouted to her ( 
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The Princess, who had been visiting a knitwear factory in Ammanford in her first visit to Wales since she was diagnosed with cancer in March, left the family stunned. “I wanted to say hi to you!,” bold Lily-Rose told Kate, before asking if she was really a Princess. “Yes I am!,” the royal answered. “I wanted to come and say hello.”

The family said they thought they had missed their chance to meet Princess Kate but Lily-Rose’s cheerful cry of “hello princess” called her back. Kate then tried to hand the banana back to Lily-Rose who promptly threw it on the ground – and the Princess of Wales had to bend down to retrieve it.

Lily-Rose’s mum Stacey Chorley, 39, said: “It was so exciting, we had no idea that was going to happen. I hope this is one of the things Lily-Rose will remember. Kate was so lovely, she’s very natural and down to earth.”

‘I hope this is one of the things Lily-Rose will remember,’ the mum said ( 
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She told GB News. “It was quite surreal to be honest. We had no idea it was going to happen. When she got in the car she waved and we thought that was it but when she stopped the car we all said oh my god she’s getting out.

“We had a feeling she was coming out to meet Lily because she was the only child there. She came running over in her high heels and it was a wow moment. It was so cute.” The mum said her daughter was “not shy at all” and described the toddler as “outgoing”. She said Princess Kate had been “absolutely lovely” during their brief interaction.

The unannounced trip to Wales was Princess Kate’s second this week and comes as she continues to make a phased return to royal duties after completing a bout of chemotherapy last summer. It follows the princess confirming she is in remission from cancer.

Kate, Princess of Wales has penned the foreword for a new handbook for parents and teachers on how to help Brits early years’ development

The Princess of Wales has said we must recognise the need to “reset, restore and rebalance” our lives as part of her crusade to help the early years development of children.

The future queen, who is continuing her recovery from cancer, told how the state of modern life was leaving many feeling “isolated and vulnerable” during troubled periods

In the foreword to a new handbook for parents and educators, Kate said those stresses can often result in “poor mental health, addiction and abuse” that was “devastating” for those affected and society.

As part of the launch for the new initiative aimed at developing the nation’s “social and emotional skills”, Kate will this week launch the project with a personal engagement.

The princess’s Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has published the Shaping Us Framework aimed at increasing awareness of these soft or life skills to inspire action across society.

The Princess of Wales last year during a visit to “Dadvengers”, a community for dads and their children ( 
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In her personal statement, Kate told how the research into changing the lives of millions of children is aimed at alleviating the human cost from a world sometimes filled with “mistrust and misunderstanding”.

The solution, she said, is to “develop and nurture” the social and emotional skills we all possess from the moment we are born which are the “bedrock of any healthy, happy society”, but this must be a priority if we are to “thrive”.

The mum-of three is continuing her return to royal duties after eight months of chemotherapy having been diagnosed with cancer last February.

In the foreword for a report outlining the framework, she said: “Modern society is complex.

“At times, it can feel like the world is filled with mistrust and misunderstanding, leaving many people feeling isolated and vulnerable during difficult times.

“The impact of this, poor mental health, addiction and abuse, can be devastating, for individuals and for society.

“If we are to address this properly, if we are to find real, lasting solutions to these deep-rooted challenges and create a physically and mentally healthier society, we must reset, restore, and rebalance. We must invest in humankind.”

The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to London Early Years Foundation Stockwell Gardens Nursery and Pre-school, in south west London ( 
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Royal sources said Kate is “excited” to join the planned event to showcase the first project based on the framework, her fourth public engagement of the year as she continues to make a gradual return to royal duties after completing her cancer treatment last summer.

In 2023 Kate launched her Shaping Us initiative, an ambitious campaign described as her “life’s work” and aimed at raising the profile of the crucial early years period of a child’s development, from pregnancy to the age of five.

The new framework is part of this work and comprises 30 social and emotional skills grouped into six clusters: know ourselves, manage our emotions, focus our thoughts, communicate with others, nurture our relationships and explore the world.

In the foreword she added: “The Shaping Us Framework is designed to provide an accessible way of focusing on social and emotional skills.

“It can be used by organisations of all shapes and sizes to design and deliver interventions that raise awareness across society, and to support the development of these critically important skills for people at all stages of life.

“Most importantly, it shows that we can all play a vital part in building a more loving, empathetic, and compassionate society, and a world with humanity reconnected.”

The Princess of Wales takes part in a Dad Walk in the local park during a visit to “Dadvengers” ( 
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The Centre for Early Childhood’s annual perceptions survey found that while 94% of 5,353 people, interviewed by Ipsos last May, believed social and emotional skills were important to happiness in adult life, 42% had little or no understanding of how these skills developed during early childhood.

Royal sources described the publication of the framework as a “milestone moment for the Centre for Early Childhood’s work in this space”.

The princess concluded: “At the heart of all of this is the need for us to develop and nurture a set of social and emotional skills which we must prioritise if we are to thrive.”

One of the framework’s main aims is to introduce a universal way to talk about social and emotional development that cuts across disciplines and reaches audiences.

It is hoped the new initiative will be used to inform conversations, like those between early years practitioners and a parent, help design and deliver campaigns and programmes on a range of topics, from young people’s mental health to corporate leadership, and support organisational development like recruitment processes and human resources activities.

Vicky Nevin, policy manager at the NSPCC, said: “The early years of life are a time of great opportunity, but they are also a time of great vulnerability. We would like to thank the princess for raising awareness of babies’ social and emotional wellbeing.

“We know that raising a young child can be challenging and stressful. Families need to know where to find trusted advice to do the best for their baby. When parents feel supported, they are better able to support their children.

“That’s why health visiting and Family Hubs should be accessible to every family.”

The Princess of Wales made a major appearance in Wales this week – and a leading royal expert has explained why the visit made her priorities very clear

The Princess of Wales continued her gradual return to work in a surprise solo visit to South Wales this week – and one thing became very clear for a royal expert.

On Thursday Kate, 43, dropped into Tŷ Hafan, a hospice for youngsters near Cardiff, in what is her first trip to Wales since her cancer diagnosis and treatment and her first solo ‘away day’ outside of London. Tŷ Hafan – which translates from Welsh to ‘Haven House’ in English – helps to provide free care and support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families and is the first children’s hospice in Wales.

It was a day which focused on some of her most significant passion projects – but if there was one takeaway, it was that it is the princess, 43, who will orchestrate her return to public life as she still has a bigger job to focus on – motherhood.

Standing firm on this subject is something which former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond praises as she tells The Mirror : “I’m sure if you asked Catherine what her most important role in life is at the moment, it would be ‘being a mum’. She adores her husband, but her children are the centre of her world and she has thrown herself into bringing them up in what must be a rather confusing environment for a young mind, as normally and lovingly and securely as possible.

Kate at the children’s hospice in Wales this week ( 
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“She knows perfectly well that many parents don’t have the luxury of choosing to be with their young children all the time. And she, too, is returning to her royal role – but she is lucky enough to be able to do it on her own terms and she is sticking to that. Some will probably criticise her for doing so – but she has decades of duty ahead of her, and, as the Princess Royal recently commented, retirement isn’t something that is exactly written into the terms and conditions of being a member of the Royal Family.”

With it being made clear by Kensington Palace that the Princess will continue to carry out a reduced diary of engagements following the positive news that her cancer is in remission, it was a delight to see her throwing herself into work that occupies such a special place in her heart.

Thursday started with a visit to the children’s hospice, Tŷ Hafan, near Cardiff. The centre first opened in 1999 and works tirelessly to ensure that children with life-shortening conditions lead fulfilling lives while they are supported with the specialist care that they and their family need. Following in the footsteps of Diana, Princess of Wales and King Charles, Catherine was announced as the hospice’s new patron and spent her time there talking to youngsters who are receiving care, as well as meeting bereaved families.

Kate paints the hand of four-year-old Maggie ( 
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Elsewhere during her first visit as patron, Catherine, who looked beautiful in a checked dress from Zara with bow detailing, joined a music therapy session after the Palace had arranged for musical instruments to be provided to the hospice to be used in musical therapy sessions in the future. And, before she headed off to her second engagement, she took part in a fun hand-painting session as one of the young patients brushed her hand with red paint.

As a keen advocate for supporting young people and learning about children’s mental health, it was especially fitting that her visit took place just before the second anniversary of Shaping Us – an awareness campaign the Princess has called “her life’s work” which is dedicated to highlighting the importance of early childhood and the impact the first five years of our lives have on us.

The Princess of Wales launched Shaping Us in 2023 ( 
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PA)Stepping out on January 31st, 2023, she declared “it is more important than ever” to support the development of young children, saying: “The way we develop, through our experiences, relationships and surroundings during our early childhood, fundamentally shapes our whole lives.

“It affects everything from our ability to form relationships and thrive at work, to our mental and physical wellbeing as adults and the way we parent our own children. These are the most preventive years. By focusing our collective time, energy and resources to build a supportive, nurturing world around the youngest members of our society and those caring for them, we can make a huge difference to the health and happiness of generations to come.”

With Kate taking her first big step back into public life, Jennie explains why her devotion to one cause above all others is so inspiring. “It’s very encouraging that the Princess is feeling strong enough to carry out several engagements so early in the New Year,” she says. “I think we could all bet our bottom dollar that a top priority would be to work with children’s organisations again as soon as possible.

“This is not just lip service to a cause; early development is a passion for Catherine: something she believes profoundly as a key to a happier, more secure future for the young generation of today. She is now an acknowledged expert in this field and has every day experience of childhood development by bringing up her own three children in a very hands-on way.”

Referring to the way the Princess has harnessed all she has learnt and used it in raising her young family, Jennie adds: “Even before she was diagnosed with cancer, Catherine was making it clear that her young family must take precedence over non-stop royal duties, especially while they are young. Following her treatment, she is even more determined to stand by her belief that early years of a child’s life are the most vital and influential in their future development.”