Last year the Duchess launched the ‘5 Big Questions on the Under Fives’ survey which asked respondents for their views on early childhood. More than half a million people responded making it the biggest poll of its kind in UK history.
According to the Daily Mirror Kate is “secretly planning” new projects to build on this success against the backdrop of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Children have faced intense disruption during the pandemic with schools being closed first in spring 2020 and then again earlier this month.
The Duchess is believed to be working on a series of initiatives designed to help young people in a post-pandemic world.
These will focus on mental health, addiction and homelessness amongst children and their families.
Speaking to the Mirror a palace insider said: “These themes are so often grounded in a difficult childhood and have undoubtedly been exacerbated for thousands of vulnerable children during the pandemic.
“The Duchess’s primary work will be to build on the results of the survey and bring together more partners to focus on those who are most at risk of falling through the cracks of society.
“In her own words, she believes the early years should be on par with the other great social challenges and opportunities of our time.
“The early years can play such a crucial role in shaping our future which is why this is so important, not just in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, but also to have a chance of achieving real change for generations.”
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Speaking to the Mirror he commented: “The early years have been historically woefully underfunded, but the attention on the Duchess’s focus has the capacity to make real change.
“The pandemic has exposed huge inequalities in our society and Kate’s focus on the silent victims of the crisis will undoubtedly raise the prospects of the most vulnerable.
“Her support in the arena has never been more valuable and it will help focus the attention of politicians and the public that these issues are some of the most pressing of our time.”
Kate and William are currently at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home, along with their three children.
They moved there shortly before the most recent lockdown was announced, having also spent the spring 2020 shutdown at the property.
Kate’s efforts to help vulnerable children were also praised by AberNecessities founder Danielle Fletcher-Horn who backed the Duchesses’ Baby Bank initiative.
She stated: “She genuinely wants children to thrive and wants to find the best way to do that, especially during the pandemic which has highlighted that a lot of children were vulnerable already.
“Our youngest children can’t speak, they can only cry, and it’s really important we listen to that cry and address that need immediately.”
On Tuesday the UK’s total coronavirus death toll exceeded 100,000.
This counted all those who died within 28 days of receiving a positive Covid-19 test.
