The Princess of Wales, 41, visited Foxcubs Nursery in Luton on Wednesday morning, her first solo engagement of the year.Princess Kate’s visit directly connects with her mission of raising awareness of the importance of early childhood for positive lifelong outcomes, a key priority of her royal platform.

Kate arrived at the nursery, about an hour from her home in Windsor, shortly before 11am. “Very nice to meet you,” she told a nursery teacher. “Thank you for having me. Is it busy for everybody, is everybody back in? There have been lots of illnesses going around,” she said referring to the seasonal colds blighting lots of families.

She was told they have had “pretty much,” all the children in. “Have you? Well done you.”

JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Catherine, Princess of Wales visits Foxcubs Nursery in Luton

She spent time at the sand pit table and, putting a mask to her face, goofed around with a couple of the youngsters.

Catherine, Princess of Wales visits Foxcubs Nursery in Luton

Catherine, Princess of Wales visits Foxcubs Nursery in Luton

Kate spoke with early childhood educators about the formative nature of the early years and heard from parents about how Foxcubs makes a difference in their children’s lives. The nursery focuses on learning through play and encourages families to be involved at the center.

Catherine, Princess of Wales visits Foxcubs Nursery in Luton

In recent years, much of Princess Kate’s work has been focused on early childhood development and providing kids with the best possible start in life. In 2021, she launched theRoyal Foundation Centre for Early Childhoodto “raise awareness of why the first five years of life are just so important for our future life outcomes, and what we can do as a society to embrace this golden opportunity to create a happier, more mentally healthy, more nurturing society.”

Kate Middleton.JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Catherine, Princess of Wales visits Foxcubs Nursery in Luton

Kate Middleton.Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Catherine Princess of Wales Catherine Princess of Wales visit to The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA - 02 Dec 2022 While in Boston, The Princess will take the opportunity to visit The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, as part of her ongoing work to elevate the importance of the early years to lifelong outcomes. The Harvard Center focuses on leveraging advances in science to inform the policy landscape and to increase the impact of programs. It has long been a friend of The Royal Foundation and more recently The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, supporting with past research on the importance of the early years.

“I see her as very motivated in having an impact on the world,” he continues. “She is personally an understated person, there was no sense of an ego in the room. You really get a sense that she understands the power of her platform and has a desire to do good and make a difference.”

Though Princess Kate and Prince William had theirfirst joint engagementof the new year last week when they officially opened Royal Liverpool University Hospital, her nursery visit Wednesday was her first solo outing since Prince Harry’s bookSparehad its global release. In it, the Duke of Sussex reflects on his royal upbringing,military service in Afghanistan, relationship with his elder brother Prince William and why he andMeghan Marklestepped back from their royal roles to create a new life in North America.

Jenna Jones

Prince Harry cover rollout

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Prince Harrycovers this week’sexclusive issue of PEOPLE, now on newsstands, where he opened up about what he hopes his family takes away from his memoir.

“I want people to read my memoir and come to their own conclusions — I don’t want to tell anyone what to think of it, and that includes my family,“Prince Harrysays. “This book and its truths are in many ways a continuation of my own mental health journey. It’s a raw account of my life — the good, the bad and everything in between.”

source: people.com