Princess Kate has been celebrated for her “amazing” empathy for fellow mothers as she spent time with them and their children at the Rose Hill Community Centre in Oxford.
The Princess of Wales was supporting the work of the Home-Start, a national network of 175 local charities providing free, trusted, relational support for families in homes and communities across the UK.
Kate was attending the gathering after she highlighted how the “toxic to health” over-reliance on technology was affecting families in an essay published ahead of the visit.
While there, the princess joined a “Stay and Play” session where families could connect with one another and receive the support of skilled volunteers and staff from Home-Start.
These sessions offer a relaxed environment for families to build a network and engage with their children in a variety of activities, from dressing up and tea parties to making playdough and crafting.
Kate then had the opportunity to speak to parents who are being supported by Home-Start Oxford and hear about the challenges they are facing.
Jasmine, one of the mothers present, described the encounter as “just an amazing experience”, noting it was “easy to forget that she’s a mum just like us”.
She explained how she had discussed her parenting journey with Kate.
Princess Kate was praised for her ‘amazing’ empathy as she met mothers and their children in Oxford
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“I was able to share with her my experiences of being a parent and it was nice to talk about how Home-Start has really re-lit a spark in me,” Jasmine said.
“Home-Start has encouraged me every step of the way – they’ve worked with me to overcome so much and it’s meant the world to us,” she explained.
Lisa, another mother who conversed with Kate, discussed “what bringing up young children is like and how important groups like this are”.
She highlighted the centre’s significance for both parents and children and how it had become a staple of her family’s routine.
The Princess of Wales volunteered at a ‘Stay and Play’ session put on by the charity, Home-Start
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“The group is something we look forward to every week – I’ve met friends here which is obviously great for me but I’ve also watched how our children have developed, and that’s really important,” Lisa told the BBC
Katharine Barber, Home-Start Oxford’s chief executive, celebrated how well Kate’s concerns and the charity’s work blended together.
“There’s such synergy between that message about connection and compassionate, caring support for young children and the role that we provide at Home-Start,” she said.
The executive added: “Our volunteers are living and breathing that, day in day out.”
Kate shared an essay highlighting the dangers of technology keeping families disconnected
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After leaving the Oxford centre, Kate issued a personal thank you message to Home-Start.
“Attention is the most basic form of love. In our increasingly distracted world, it has never been more important to hold on to what truly connects us – to ourselves, to one another, and to the world around us,” she began.
In a touching reply, the Princess of Wales said: “Thank you to Home-Start and the Rose Hill Community Centre in Oxford for today and for all you do to nurture strong connections in the community.”
She signed off with a simple “C” – the initial of Catherine, signifying the message had come directly from her.