This is modern Britain – where a princess pleading for children’s rights seems almost radical | Gaby Hinsliff
In a recent public address, the Princess of Wales emphasized the vital importance of nurturing environments for children, urging society to prioritize love, safety, and belonging for every child. This speech marked her first public engagement since recovering from cancer, and she took the opportunity to advocate for values that resonate deeply with the public, such as tenderness and collective responsibility for the upbringing of future generations. By addressing an audience of influential employers, the Princess highlighted that caregiving and nurturing roles deserve respect and recognition. These sentiments, while fundamentally non-controversial, are set against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny of royal initiatives, particularly in light of past controversies involving the royal family, such as Prince Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The contrast between the royal family’s appeal to the nation’s better instincts and the current government’s actions is striking. Many feel that while the royals espouse ideals of compassion and community, the elected government often seems to cater to less noble impulses, such as division and fear. This dissonance raises questions about the role of the monarchy in contemporary society and whether their messages can truly resonate in a political climate that sometimes feels at odds with the values they promote. As Gaby Hinsliff notes in her commentary for The Guardian, the royal family’s attempts to engage with pressing social issues have become more complex and fraught, especially as they navigate the legacy of past scandals that cast shadows over their initiatives.
Ultimately, the Princess of Wales’s call for a more nurturing society is a reminder of the collective responsibility we share in shaping the culture that children grow up in. It challenges us to reflect on the values we uphold and the actions we take as a society. As we consider the implications of her message, it becomes clear that fostering a supportive environment for future generations requires not only the advocacy of influential figures but also a commitment from all sectors of society to prioritize kindness and care over division and neglect.
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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