The Princess of Wales has made a powerful return to public life, delivering her first in-person speech in two years and calling for dignity, compassion and stronger support systems for carers and families.
Speaking at the Future Workforce Summit in the City of London on Monday, Catherine urged senior business leaders to rethink workplace culture and embrace “tenderness” as a value that matters just as much as productivity.
Addressing an audience of 80 top executives, the princess spoke with conviction about the often unseen emotional labour of caring for children, elderly relatives, or loved ones facing health challenges. “I believe in restoring dignity to the quiet, often invisible work of caring, of loving well, as we look to build a happier, healthier society,” she said.
The event forms part of her ongoing campaign to elevate conversations about early childhood and family well-being, an effort she has championed for years through the Centre for Early Childhood, which she founded prior to her cancer diagnosis.
Catherine’s appearance marked a significant moment: her first public speech since November 2023 and her first since revealing her cancer diagnosis in March 2024. While she has previously addressed the public through carefully recorded video messages, Monday’s summit marked her official in-person return to public duties, delivered confidently from a skyscraper overlooking London’s skyline.
Her message to business leaders was deeply personal and rooted in her long-held belief that the earliest years of life form the foundation of adult well-being. “The love we feel in our earliest years fundamentally shapes who we become and how we thrive as adults,” she told the gathering. She described families as holding together a “weave of love,” stressing that workplaces must be structured in ways that allow parents and carers to maintain nurturing home environments.
Catherine encouraged leaders across sectors to expand their definition of success beyond financial performance. She challenged companies to design systems that “value time and tenderness just as much as productivity and success,” arguing that employees who are supported emotionally and practically are better positioned to contribute meaningfully to their organisations.
She acknowledged the daily pressures executives face, the constant balancing act between profitability and positive social impact. “But the two are not, and should not be incompatible,” she said, urging business leaders to view compassionate practices not as concessions but as strategic investments in human potential.
The summit also featured contributions from notable speakers committed to examining the long-term impact of childhood experiences. Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School and director of the world’s longest-running study on adult development, reinforced Catherine’s message. He explained that individuals who grow up in nurturing relationships continue to show stronger emotional security well into old age, underscoring the intergenerational impact of care.
Former England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate also shared his insights, reflecting on how early family dynamics influence trust, discipline and resilience in young athletes. He noted that players from unstable home environments often required different forms of support, especially under pressure. Southgate, who publicly faced the fallout of missing a penalty in the Euro 1996 semi-final, spoke candidly about rebuilding confidence through “small steps” and the importance of creating environments where people “feel comfortable in your own skin.”
Throughout the event, the message was consistent: businesses play a crucial role in shaping healthier families and, by extension, a healthier society. Delegates heard from leaders of organisations already supporting the initiative, including Aviva, NatWest Group, Iceland, Ikea, Lego and Deloitte. Their involvement forms part of the Business Taskforce established by the Princess of Wales to mobilise corporate support for early childhood development.
As Catherine continues her gradual return to public engagements, her speech signals a renewed commitment to one of the causes closest to her heart, ensuring that every child, family and caregiver receives the respect, support and dignity they deserve.
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