PRINCESS Kate assumed the role of teacher today as she cuddled up to beaming kids during a school trip.
The Princess of Wales, 43, was joined by young children for an interactive trail at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
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The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood launched Kate’s Shaping Us Framework on Sunday.
The new project aims to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of social and emotional skills across society.
Pupils from All Souls CE Primary School in London were the first children to take part in The Bobeam Tree Trail, which saw them journey through the Gallery.
It uses portraits as the basis for a range of activities and the trail is based on a magical tree, which has grown inside the National Portrait Gallery.
She accompanied them as they drew self-portraits – an exercise to encourage them to think about their own stories.
This is the first project to be created based on the new Shaping Us Framework from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
And her first Shaping Us engagement since November 2023.
The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a video of the day on their social media.
It showed Kate introducing herself to the children before asking them whether they were all wearing their seat belts.
She could also be seen smiling and listening to the youngsters during the journey there.
After strolling in hand-in-hand, Kate knelt beside the children as they looked at the new exhibit.
The post read: “Working with @earlychildhood to launch the new #ShapingUs framework. The Bobeam Tree Trail is just one example of how organisations can empower children to thrive emotionally and socially.
“With initiatives like this at the@NPGLondon, the foundation is laid for the next generation to grow into confident, compassionate individuals.
“The Centre for Early Childhood is also working with organisations across a variety of sectors, on how the framework can be used to promote social and emotional skills across society.”
The future Queen said in her foreword for a report outlining the framework: “Modern society is complex.
“At times, it can feel like the world is filled with mistrust and misunderstanding, leaving many people feeling isolated and vulnerable during difficult times.
“The impact of this, poor mental health, addiction and abuse, can be devastating, for individuals and for society.
“If we are to address this properly, if we are to find real, lasting solutions to these deep-rooted challenges and create a physically and mentally healthier society, we must reset, restore, and rebalance.
“We must invest in humankind.”
The Princess brought joy to pupils from All Souls CE Primary School in London, sharing the school run ride in a mini bus.
She emerged from the bus, which was organised by Kensington Palace, holding five-year-old Grace’s hand after the new best friends sat side-by-side on the school run.
Alix Ascough, executive headteacher at All Souls, said: “She [Kate] had been asked if she would have a partner, and she was sat next to Grace on the coach and Grace had chatted away to her the whole journey.”
But the youngster did not know she was holding hands with the future Queen.
Alix said: “She knew it was a very special visitor. We told her she was a princess. She just called her Catherine.”
She added: “The children, they’re four or five years old. They’re completely oblivious to everything that’s happening. They were just like, ‘we’ve got a posh coach with nice lights and aircon’ and Catherine was wonderful, really chatty with the children.
“And just felt like a really relaxed journey. She was helping out with the children, helping out with their jumpers. It was just lovely.”
Alix said of the children: “They absolutely loved, it was so magical, the awe and wonder. And just as they came in and they saw the tree and the magic of the day… I don’t think we’ll ever have another school trip like it!”
She said the Princess said it had been a “wonderful opportunity” to be with the children in the gallery.
And added: “She was complimenting the children and how well behaved they were and what good artists they were because they had the opportunity to draw pictures.
“Those experiences that we give the children are incredibly important, and days like today, where those experiences become magical, you sow those seeds for lifelong learning.”
Kate helped to shepherd the children into a line before they made their way into the Gallery, at Trafalgar Square.
The group then attempted to read each others’ faces through the mirror and the Princess, who wore dark pinstriped trousers and a brown blazer over a dark roll-neck sweater, crouched down to join in.
She pulled ‘happy’ and ‘angry’ faces much to the children’s obvious delight.
After saying her goodbyes to the children, Kate chatted with Victoria Siddall, the NPG’s new director, about how portraits could help younger children to learn about empathy.
She said: “It’s such a great way for children to engage and understand other people’s perspectives in a creative and less intimidating way. They don’t have the language yet, but they’re finding ways to talk about emotions and feelings and understand them.”
Speaking afterwards, Liz Smith, director of learning and engagement at the NPG, said of the Princess: “I think she really was one of the group today, an unusual situation. She was part of the school party, like one of one of the mums and the helpers on the school trip, which always throws up some challenges.
“You could hear them shout their goodbyes at the end. It was so sweet.”
She added of Kate: “She was absolutely enthralled, and I think really engaged with seeing the potential of curiosity and creativity come to life. And importantly, just the ways of empathy, kindness and the ability to encourage that conversation between the little ones and their parents and carers.”
It comes after Kate released a photograph of herself to mark World Cancer Day taken by her six-year-old son Prince Louis.
Kate was snapped outdoors on a wintry day by the young royal, who appears to be following in the footsteps of his mother – who is a keen amateur photographer.
Word Cancer Day falls on Tuesday and in a social media post showing her image, and another of some ferns taken by the princess, she writes: “Don’t forget to nurture all that which lies beyond the disease.”
It was signed off with a C to show it was a message from the princess.
Kate is continuing to make a gradual return to royal duties after completing her cancer treatment last summer.
She carried out three royal engagements last week, but the events are not thought to indicate the princess is fully back to work.
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