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Princess Catherine is set to visit the children’s mental health charity Anna Freud on Thursday, November 27. The 43-year-old, who serves as the charity’s patron, has made several visits over the years — including one during Mental Health Awareness Week in 2023.
Her upcoming engagement comes just a week after her speech at the Future Workforce Summit, where she highlighted the importance of stable, nurturing relationships in giving children the supportive environments they need to flourish.
Catherine also encouraged business leaders to prioritise “time and tenderness” alongside profit and achievement.
The announcement of the Princess’s upcoming engagement follows news of an exciting new initiative from her Early Years Centre, which will fund £100,000 worth of research into how parents can manage tech-related distractions that interfere with family life.
Anna Freud has had the Princess as its patron since 2016. It is the UK’s leading organisation for evidence-based research and training in children’s, young people’s and families’ mental health. The charity’s mission is to create a world where young people can reach their full potential, supported by the resources they need to build strong emotional and mental well-being.
Research gathered by the organisation shows that people with stronger social connections experience fewer mental health difficulties. However, young people in the UK report the highest levels of loneliness of any age group, with 70% of those aged 18–24 saying they feel lonely at least some of the time.
During this week’s visit, the Princess will meet the charity’s Chief Executive, Professor Eamon McCrory, and discuss how Anna Freud is advancing mental health care for babies, children and young people through science, collaboration and clinical innovation.
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The new initiative comes on the heels of an announcement from Princess Catherine’s Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which is inviting researchers to submit proposals on tackling “technoference” — the digital distractions that can interrupt the connection between parents and their children.
The centre will provide £100,000 in funding for the study, which will work with families across the UK to identify when and why these disruptions occur and to test practical solutions for reducing their impact. The findings will help shape future resources for professionals such as health visitors and early years educators.
News of the Princess’s forthcoming engagement also follows the release of a new message from her, encouraging people to “join the conversation” and approach the subject of addiction with greater kindness, care and compassion.
