“We must do all we can to tackle these issues and to elevate the importance of the early years, so that together we can build a more nurturing society,” the Duchess said when talking about the ambitious piece of research.

Over the last decade I have met people from all walks of life. I have seen that experiences such as homelessness, addiction, and poor mental health are often grounded in a difficult childhood. But I have also seen how positive protective factors in the early years can play a crucial role in shaping our future. The early years are not simply about how we raise our children. They are in fact about how we raise the next generation of adults. They are about the society we will become.”

The duchess now plans to use these findings from her 5 Big Questions on the Under Fives to shape her future work and look at how childhood impacts the adults we grow into, which is crucial for all of us, regardless of our relationship status.

Kate Middleton on the need for a more nurturing society