Caring Kate takes on the ‘big issue’ of giving all children the best start in life

THE Princess of Wales has told of her excitement as she prepared to begin a new phase of her campaign to help children develop better social and emotional skills.

- Richard Palmer

Kate is expected to announce a drive next week highlighting the importance of the first five years of a child’s life.

Yesterday, she met an eight-member advisory board at Windsor Castle supporting her work on early years development – her mission for the rest of her royal career.

It came as experts urged politicians to devote more resources to giving the nation’s children a better start.

One said that by just looking at their first five years, it was now possible to predict with confidence the physical illnesses a child would suffer in later life.

Kate, 41, has created the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to bolster her work and help influence new national policies for children.

The eight advisers, who will meet twice a year, have expertise in sectors including neuroscience, psychology, perinatal psychiatry, early years services and policy development.