Revealed: How Kate has been ‘driving force’ behind new early years project as she continues cancer treatment: Kensington Palace shares update on ‘excited’ Princess’s work as she remains out of the public eye until she has ‘green light from doctors’

The Princess of Wales is today revealed as the ‘driving force’ behind a new report calling on businesses to adopt more family-friendly working practices.

Its Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood has unveiled a major new report which claims that investing in early childhood could deliver more than £45.5 billion annually to the national economy.

Downing Street, as well as senior ministers at the Departments of Health and Education, have already been briefed on its findings – although palace officials are at pains to point out it is not a political campaign.

A spokesperson for Kensington Palace also stressed that the news should not be seen as Kate, 42, returning to work after major abdominal surgery and revealing she is undergoing ‘preventative chemotherapy’ for cancer.

This year she has made no public engagements at all.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended a Shaping Us event with the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood in November last year. The project would be her ‘life’s work’

But they confirmed that despite her illness, she reviewed every aspect of the report from home.

Her spokesperson said: ‘The work of The Prince and The Princess projects is ‘always going’… early childhood is a major priority for The Princess and so she has been kept fully informed throughout the development of the Taskforce’s work and she has seen the report. . ‘

A senior royal aide added: ‘The Princess of Wales was the driving force behind the business taskforce. She has been kept informed since the creation of the task force and has read and informed about the report.

“This is a clear commitment she has made that this will be the focus throughout her life in public service. It will remain that way when she returns to work. But we have made it very clear that she needs the space and privacy to recover now. She will return to work once she has been given the green light by the doctors.’

Christian Guy, Executive Director of the Early Childhood Center, added: “This is another pivotal moment for HRH’s early childhood work. I know the impact of it, and the work of her Center for Early, having informed The Princess, she is enormously grateful to the members of the Taskforce who have made such fantastic progress on this work over the past year.

Its Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood has unveiled a major new report which claims that investing in early childhood could deliver more than £45.5 billion to the national economy every year.

William and Kate at the launch of the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood’s Shaping Us campaign in January 2023

“She feels passionate about the transformative impact of getting this right, both for the current generation and for many more generations to come. I know she is keen to encourage all businesses, regardless of size or purpose, to join us on this journey and looks forward to seeing the momentum grow in the coming months.”

A source close to the princess said: ‘She’s excited about it. Action is so important to her, so it’s exciting for her that eight of Britain’s most important companies are coming forward to make the case to their fellow business leaders. It is a priority for the future.’

The report is the result of six months of research into how companies can better prioritize children at the most crucial stage of their lives, between birth and five.

Taskforce members – Aviva, The Co-operative Group, Deloitte, Island Foods, IKEA, The LEGO Group, NatWest and Unilever UK – have identified key opportunities for businesses to help their workforce, whether it’s a small coffee shop in Wolverhampton or a large international company.

Kate was last seen in public on Christmas Day. Pictured with Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louise and Mia Tindall

It is argued that good investment in this area could deliver more than £45.5 billion to the economy, of which £12.2 billion by helping to improve people’s social and emotional skills in the early years, and a £16 Save .1 billion in public money on recovery support for those who have had adverse childhood experiences and £17.2 billion from supporting working parents, especially with more affordable childcare.

The authors of the reports also set out how ‘building a culture’ that prioritises early childhood within businesses, local communities and wider society is crucial in preventing a range of social, health and mental problems on later age.

This includes providing parents and carers with more practical support, resources and flexibility in their work, and better access to high-quality, affordable and reliable early childhood education and care.

And a ‘major appeal’ was made to their fellow business leaders across the country to support them and the Princess.

Companies like The Co-op have already committed to raising £5 million over the next five years to create more than 600 apprenticeships, while NatWet is expanding its lending target for the childcare sector to £100 million.

In a joint statement, the taskforce’s eight inaugural members said: ‘Last year the Princess of Wales brought us together. She asked us to think radically about our approach to early childhood and the golden opportunity it offers to transform children’s lives…

‘If we get this right, the results for business, the economy and society will be clear to everyone. ‘

Mr Guy added: ‘Tomorrow some of Britain’s most important businesses will join forces to make an ‘important early years appeal’ to their fellow business leaders across the country… and join us urging their colleagues to stand behind them, the Center for Early Childhood and The Princess to help transform the way our country supports the crucial early years.

“Through a groundbreaking report and announcing the first set of initiatives they have developed, Taskforce members are stepping forward to advocate that other companies must act alongside them – for the good of the country now and in the future future, including unlocking a huge economic return of £45 billion for Britain. ‘

More details about the report and findings can be found at centreforearlychildhood.org