Visitors at the National Portrait Gallery were in for a surprise as the Princess of Wales arrived in an unexpected fashion—stepping off a London minibus alongside a group of enthusiastic

schoolchildren. The occasion? The launch of a new interactive programme designed to foster emotional and social development in young learners.

Accompanied by students from All Souls CE Primary School, Catherine introduced the latest initiative from her Shaping Us project: the Bobeam Tree Trail. As patron of the National Portrait Gallery, she led the children through the exhibit, pausing at portraits of historical figures like Winston Churchill and her great-grandfather-in-law, King George VI. She described the Bobeam Tree Trail as "a great way for children to engage and understand other people’s perspectives in a creative and less intimidating way."

Catherine emphasized the potential of portraiture in developing social and emotional skills, highlighting how the initiative makes these concepts accessible beyond the classroom. "I’m excited to be using portraiture to explore social and emotional skills," she noted, adding that she hopes the programme will be embraced by communities as well.

A statement from Kensington Palace explained that the Bobeam Tree Trail features a ‘magical tree’ within the gallery, encouraging children to help it grow by participating in various interactive activities. Young visitors will engage with portrait subjects through audio storytelling, props, facial expression exercises, and personal reflection, culminating in the creation of their own self-portraits. These self-portraits are then added to the Bobeam Tree, symbolizing growth and understanding.

Alix Ascough, executive head teacher of All Souls CE Primary School, praised Catherine’s warm and engaging approach. "She was chatty with the children, complimenting them on their behavior and artistic abilities," she shared.

Following the event, Catherine expressed her enthusiasm in a message shared by Kensington Palace’s social media. "It was fantastic to see The Centre for Early Childhood’s Shaping Us Framework, which is based on key science, expressed in such an innovative, creative, and fun way at the National Portrait Gallery today," she wrote.

She further highlighted the significance of the initiative, saying, "The Bobeam Tree Trail is a brilliant example of how organizations can embrace the principles of social and emotional development, and the Centre’s framework, to engage children and families in their communities. I hope that many people will be able to enjoy it over the coming weeks! Thank you to the National Portrait Gallery and to the staff and pupils of All Souls CE Primary School for a brilliant day. C."

The Bobeam Tree Trail is now open to the public, inviting children and families to explore portraiture in a dynamic and enriching way. Photo by Ian Jones, Wikimedia commons.