The Princess advocates for "genuine human connection" over an "increasingly digitalised world". Photo / Getty Images
The Princess advocates for "genuine human connection" over an "increasingly digitalised world". Photo / Getty Images
The Princess of Wales, who has recently begun campaigning for “genuine human connection”, said many adults now yearned for something other than an “increasingly digitalised world”.
Writing after her recent visit to Reggio Emilia in Italy for her early childhood project, the Princess said childhood “can be understood as thestate in which we come closest to our true selves”.
In a new essay, she says: “Childhood, then, is not only a beginning. It is also a reference point, a reminder of our true nature – and one that, even as adults, we might try to rediscover.
“If healing later in life is about rediscovering our most important connections, then perhaps the real task is to ensure that they are never lost in the first place.”
The Princess said she had recently been asked by a parent at her children’s school: “If we could all do just one thing, what would it be?”
Her comments align with moves to limit children's use of smartphones and social media.
Photo / Getty Images
She said: “My answer is simple: to prioritise love. I’m not talking about overly sentimental and romantic gestures, but love that is quiet and unconditional, built on time and patience: the joy found in ordinary things; the everyday magic of life itself.”
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis currently attend Lambrook School in Berkshire.
The Princess said children must be surrounded by “loving environments” to “thrive in the world today”.
Her comments come amid moves against the prolonged use of smartphones and tablets by children and exposure to social media for teenagers.
Sir Keir Starmer announced a social media ban for under-16s on Monday, expected to be in place by next spring, and this month the Government launched a three-week call for evidence to produce guidance for parents on how long under-16s should watch TV, phone and tablet screens.
The Prince of Wales revealed in an interview last year that he and the Princess do not allow Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and 8-year-old Prince Louis to have mobile phones.
She emphasises childhood as a time to nurture skills like empathy and love. Photo / Getty Images
The Princess wrote in her essay, published on the website of her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood: “By spending time in nature or being creative, we can nurture the very skills and emotions that cannot be digitised – awareness, empathy, humility and above all love.
“These foundational qualities help us relate to others, understand our place in the world, and ultimately find meaning in life. All of them echo a way of being we knew instinctively in childhood, marked by openness, curiosity and emotional immediacy.”
The Princess has suggested the natural world played an important role in her recovery from cancer, offering her solace and a respite from the side-effects of chemotherapy.
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