Kate Middleton Reveals Her Answer to Life's Biggest Question — And It's Refreshingly Simple
Kate Middleton recently reflected on her experiences and insights that she gained during her trip to Italy this year in a recently published essay.
Two months ago, Kate Middleton embarked on a fact-finding mission to Italy. Armed with a warm smile and an open mind, the princess visited schools and creative centers and spoke with experts to understand and learn about the globally-renowned 'Reggio Emilia' method that championed early childhood education. At the time, many had criticized her trip as a PR move, but the royal didn’t flinch. Instead, she quietly put her experiences and insights into words and recently published an essay about it.
Middleton's love for children is widely known. Either they always beelined to her during public engagements, or she spent a few extra minutes interacting with the kids around her. But the 'Children’s Princess' always had a special connection with the little ones. And in her essay, she revealed why. “Children always give me hope” she wrote “Their natural openness, their curiosity about the simplest of things, and their ability to wonder, dream and play remind me of the very best qualities of humanity”. The royal further revealed that the children of Reggio Emilia “radiated” all these qualities.
A true fact-finder on a mission, Middleton held a microscope to what was so different in the tiny Italian city. She revealed that children are considered “equal members of the society” ever since WWII. They are treated with “genuine respect and encouraged to express and share their ideas through their own ‘100 languages’ – the many verbal and non-verbal ways they have of expressing themselves”. And in “an increasingly digitalised world, where so much of life is mediated through screens”, she believed the “need for genuine human connection has never been greater”.
In Italy, Middleton had moved through vivid environments. From exploring creepy crawlies with children to playing with them using toys made from waste materials, the Princess of Wales experienced firsthand the influence of nature and creativity in a child’s early development. “In a world that can often feel fast-paced and fragmented, it is important to consider the environments in which children learn and develop. Healthy development needs to be holistic. It should reflect the whole child, beyond physical or cerebral milestones, acknowledging the importance of early relationships, experiences and environments,” she wrote.
The Princess of Wales revealed that a parent at her children’s school had asked her if they “could all do just one thing,” and what it would be. The mother-of-three had a “simple” answer: “prioritise love”. However, the love that she was referencing wasn’t “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”.
Ever since Middleton had undertaken early childhood studies as one of her causes, she had stressed the impact that initial experiences can have on one’s life. She concluded the essay with a similar thought, “If we can surround children with nurturing, loving environments, we can help them build the human capabilities they need to thrive in the world today”.
