Over the weekend, the Princess of Wales, Catherine, made headlines for advocating her new Business Taskforce for Early Childhood. Catherine spent time speaking with the chief executive of

Iceland Food and even wrote an opinion piece for the Financial Times. In a six-minute video shared on official social media channels, Catherine chatted with Richard Walker about how businesses can play a part in the early years.

During their conversation, Catherine spoke about the importance of early childhood education, specifically on the development of soft skills such as creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, flexibility, and resilience. She noted that these skills are highly sought after by businesses and are often built in the earliest years of our lives.

The conversation was filmed in Iceland's warehouse in Aylesbury, where Catherine was shown new emoji posters displayed at checkouts for young children to discuss their feelings. Walker commented that the science behind the Shaping Us campaign challenged his thinking and made him think about what more his business could do, both personally as a parent and as a company.

Catherine also wrote an opinion piece for the Financial Times titled "Investing in early childhood is a down payment on all our futures." In the piece, she argues for businesses and companies to be at the forefront of advocating for societal changes, especially considering that statistics show that 76% of mothers and 92% of fathers work and raise families in the United Kingdom.

She points out that the science supports the vital nature of the early years and argues that businesses play a unique role in ensuring that changes are made. Not only can they alter their own business structures, but they can also reach out through their wider networks to effect change.

Catherine's advocacy for early childhood education and development is essential, as it lays the foundation for a brighter future. By encouraging businesses to be more involved, she is taking a step towards a more supportive and nurturing society for families and children alike. With her Business Taskforce for Early Childhood, Catherine is sending a powerful message that the early years are just as crucial as any other stage of life, and that investing in them is investing in all our futures. Photo by The Royal Navy, Wikimedia commons.