The Princess of Wales visited the National Portrait Gallery today, marking a significant step in the launching of the Shaping Us Framework, an initiative by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
The visit focused on supporting young children’s social and emotional development as per the Shaping Us Framework, reinforcing Catherine’s commitment to ensuring that every child gets the best possible start in life.
Catherine joined school children at the National Portrait Gallery. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
Her Royal Highness joined a group of reception pupils from All Souls CE Primary School in Marylebone, playing an active role in their special trip. As she arrived at the gallery, she walked hand-in-hand with Grace, one of the young students.
During their journey on the minibus, the Princess showed her warmth and relatability, engaging the children by playing ‘I Spy’ and helping them with their jumpers. Upon stepping onto the bus, she introduced herself in her signature down-to-earth manner, saying, “My name is Catherine, and I’m coming on your trip today.” She even checked in on the children’s safety, asking, “You’ve all got your seat belts on?”
The Princess with one of the pupils during the visit. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
Inside the gallery, the children took part in an interactive storytelling trail, which is part of the new Shaping Us Framework. This special trail, created for young learners, encourages children to explore how faces in portraits can express feelings and emotions. The activity was designed to help children understand emotions through art, making it both educational and engaging.
The Princess of Wales in front of the Bobeam Tree. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
A standout feature of the Shaping Us trail was the Bobeam Tree, a magical interactive exhibit where children listened to audio recordings and used props to uncover the stories behind different portraits. The young visitors were encouraged to draw their own self-portraits, connecting their emotions to their artistic creations.
The Shaping Us initiative, spearheaded by Catherine, highlights the importance of the first five years of a child’s life. The latest phase of the project calls for a stronger focus on teaching social skills and improving mental health from an early age. The interactive trail at the National Portrait Gallery serves as an innovative tool to help children recognise, process, and express their emotions through art and storytelling.
The Princess joined the children and their teachers for part of the trail during which they spent time together exploring how faces can express feelings and emotions. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
Alix Ascough, Executive Headteacher at All Souls, said: ‘Kate had been asked if she would have a partner, and she was sat next to Grace on the coach and Grace had chatted away to her the whole journey. She knew it was a very special visitor. We told her she was a princess. She just called her Catherine.’
Alix remarked about the children’s behaviour in the presence of royalty noting: ‘They absolutely loved it. It was so magical, the awe and wonder. And just as they came in and they saw the tree and the magic of the day. I don’t think we’ll ever have another school trip like it!’
‘She [The Princess of Wales] was complimenting the children and how well behaved they were and what good artists they were because they had the opportunity to draw pictures. Those experiences that we give the children are incredibly important, and days like today, where those experiences become magical, you sow those seeds for lifelong learning.’
The Princess of Wales joins a group of four and five-year-old school children at the National Portrait Gallery to launch a new project from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood aimed at supporting young children in the development of crucial social and emotional skills. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
The visit to the National Portrait Gallery is another sign of Catherine’s gradual return to work after completing her cancer treatment and is now in remission.
Today’s engagement took place on World Cancer Day, which had been marked by the Princess the previous day where she released two new photographs, including one taken by her youngest child, Prince Louis.
This visit is yet another testament to the Princess of Wales’ passion for early years development — and through initiatives like Shaping Us, she continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young children across the UK.
