This is modern Britain – where a princess pleading for children’s rights seems almost radical | Gaby Hinsliff
In a poignant return to the public eye, the Princess of Wales delivered her first speech since overcoming cancer, emphasizing the fundamental rights of children to feel safe, loved, and a sense of belonging. Her message was clear and resonant: families thrive in nurturing environments, and society would benefit from a greater emphasis on tenderness and care. Addressing an audience of influential employers, she highlighted that the work of caring for others is deserving of respect and recognition. This heartfelt appeal aligns with the royal family’s traditional values of compassion and support, yet it also comes at a time when the political landscape seems increasingly at odds with such ideals.
The context surrounding her speech is significant, especially given the current climate in which the elected government often appears to be catering to the worst instincts of society rather than uplifting its best. The contrast between the royal family’s call for unity and compassion and the sometimes divisive rhetoric of political leaders raises questions about the role of royals in contemporary society. While the Princess’s sentiments may seem universally accepted, they become contentious when considering the complexities of real-life implementation. The shadow of past royal controversies, particularly the association of Prince Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein, complicates the public’s reception of royal initiatives aimed at childhood welfare. As Gaby Hinsliff, a Guardian columnist, points out, what was once a safe and bland royal narrative is now fraught with deeper implications, making the call for nurturing environments for children not just a matter of royal duty but a reflection of societal values in flux.
In this light, the Princess’s speech serves as both a reminder of the royal family’s potential to inspire positive change and a critique of the current political climate that often undermines such aspirations. The challenge lies in translating these noble ideals into actionable policies that resonate with the public’s needs and desires. As the nation grapples with its identity and values, the royal family’s role may become increasingly vital in advocating for a culture that prioritizes the well-being of future generations.
It is uncomfortable to watch royals appealing to the nation’s best instincts while an elected government feels compelled to chase our worst
Every child has the right to feel safe, loved and as if they belong.
Put like that, there is nothing remotely radical about what the Princess of Wales used her
first public speech
since recovering from cancer to say: that families need consistently nurturing environments to flourish; that the world could actually use a bit more tenderness; that we are all responsible for the culture in which future generations grow up; and that (as she told an audience of blue-chip employers) caring for others is work deserving of respect. It’s the reasons why those motherhood-and-apple-pie values don’t always prevail in real life, rather than the values themselves, that are generally too contentious for the carefully apolitical royals. Yet what were once safe, bland nothings are increasingly no longer so – and not just because of the awkward shadow now cast over any royal initiative involving childhood by the former prince Andrew’s
infamous association
with the sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist
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