Children across the UK tuned in this morning to watch the Duchess of Cambridge lead a special online assembly.
Kate Middleton, 38, partnered with online classroom the Oak National Academy for the 10-minute lesson, which was premiered on YouTube at 10am.
During the assembly, which was pre-recorded, the Duchess spoke about the importance of carrying out small acts of kindness and acknowledged lockdown has been ‘difficult’ for everyone.
Parents, teachers and schools across the country took to Twitter to thank Kate for her ‘lovely’ words and to share photos of children watching the Duchess.
Children across the UK tuned in this morning to watch the Duchess of Cambridge lead a special online assembly. Pictured, delivering a pre-recorded message from Anmer Hall
Addressing viewers at the start of the video, Kate, who was filmed at Anmer Hall, Norfolk, said: ‘Talking to someone, whether it’s a friend, family member, or teacher, is something you can do to make yourself feel that little bit better.
‘And you can also play your part in helping others to feel better too, whether offering a friendly ear, or helping someone in need.
‘Small acts of kindness can go such a long way. But as we help others, we mustn’t forget to nurture ourselves, by taking the time to focus on the things that make us feel happy too.’
She continued: ‘We all have our ups and downs, especially when things change in our lives as they have in so many ways recently. This can cause us to have a huge range of different feelings. Sometimes these feelings may be good, but sometimes they may be uncomfortable, and we feel worried, angry or upset.
Parents, teachers and schools across the country took to Twitter to thank Kate for her ‘lovely’ words and to share photos of children watching the Duchess
‘Being unable to see your friends or spend time with your family will undoubtedly be frustrating for you, just as it is for them. It’s been a really difficult time for us all. But it’s important to know that these feelings and frustrations are totally normal, and that they won’t last forever.’
As part of the assembly, the Duchess joined a video call with students from Waterloo Primary Academy in Blackpool, whose parents have been working on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic.
The children shared photographs they had taken and submitted to The Duchess’s Hold Still photography project, based around one of its central themes, ‘Acts of Kindness’, and spoke about the acts of kindness they have carried out in recent weeks.
Oak National Academy was created in response to the lockdown, supporting teachers educating their pupils remotely, and since its launch has delivered over 12 million lessons to children and young people.
Every Thursday morning, thpe academy, in collaboration with TES, hosts assemblies for students across the UK, allowing them to experience the normal routine of a school environment.
As part of the assembly, the Duchess joined a video call with students from Waterloo Primary Academy in Blackpool, whose parents have been working on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, the pupils
The Duchess’ assembly is based on a lesson plan which is available on the Mentally Healthy Schools platform.
It was developed in collaboration with children’s mental health charity Place2Be and encourages children to explore ways in which they can show kindness, and recognise the benefits of kindness to others.
Matt Hood, Principal at Oak National Academy, said: ‘We’re thrilled that The Duchess of Cambridge was able to lead this week’s assembly on acts of kindness. Being kind and considerate is a vital lesson for children at any time, but especially so in the current pandemic. We must encourage young people to talk about their feelings and to know that it’s normal to feel a bit anxious or upset right now.
‘The Duchess’s Hold Still competition is a fantastic way to get children engaging with their mental wellbeing as they think about what kindness means to them and how they can show it towards others.’
The Mentally Healthy Schools site was launched in 2018 by The Duchess as a legacy of The Royal Foundation’s Heads Together campaign, developed by leading children’s mental health charities The Anna Freud Centre, Young Minds and Place2Be. The site is now managed by The Anna Freud Centre.