HRH The Princess of Wales Leads a National Call to Champion Children’s Mental Wellbeing During Children’s Mental Health Week 2026
Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales visited Castle Hill Academy in New Addington, Croydon, to mark Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, drawing national attention to the profound importance of early childhood in shaping lifelong emotional health and resilience. As Royal Patron of Place2Be, the Princess continues to champion early intervention and the creation of nurturing environments where children can flourish socially and emotionally from their earliest years.
Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, themed “This Is My Place,” highlights the essential role that belonging plays in a child’s wellbeing. The theme invites schools, families, and communities to create spaces where every young person feels recognised, valued, and secure. It is a call to ensure that children grow up confident in their identity and supported through life’s challenges — able to say with certainty, “I belong here.” The initiative was established in 2015 by Place2Be, the children’s mental health charity founded in 1994 by Dame Benita Refson, and today remains a cornerstone of the UK’s mental health awareness calendar.
Place2Be, under the leadership of Chief Executive Catherine Roche and Chair of Trustees Dame Benita Refson, has spent more than three decades embedding professional counselling and therapeutic services within schools across the United Kingdom. In the past year alone, the organisation has supported more than 350,000 children and young people. With the continued support of its Royal Patron, the charity advocates tirelessly for accessible, school-based mental health provision so that no child has to face emotional difficulties without help.
During her visit, The Princess met pupils, parents, teachers, and Place2Be practitioners to hear how the school community is embracing this year’s theme. Castle Hill Academy, which has partnered with Place2Be for many years, integrates mental wellbeing throughout school life, providing consistent emotional support for both children and families. Conversations focused on the importance of trusted relationships, creative expression, and play in helping young people feel connected and secure.
Her Royal Highness began her visit in the school’s Early Years outdoor learning and play area, funded by Deloitte, a member of The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood. Designed in line with Place2Be’s therapeutic principles, the space encourages imaginative play, sensory discovery, and emotional regulation — experiences fundamental to developing the social and emotional capabilities that underpin future learning and resilience. The Princess also met with parents who have benefitted from Place2Be’s services, including several who first accessed support as pupils at the school themselves.
In the Art Studio, Her Royal Highness joined pupils taking part in the official Children’s Mental Health Week creative project, developed by The Art Room at Place2Be. Sitting alongside the children at their tables, she listened attentively as they shared their “belonging maps” — vibrant, heartfelt creations illustrating the people, places, and moments that make them feel safe, valued, and understood. With genuine curiosity and encouragement, she asked thoughtful questions, praised their imagination, and celebrated the personal meaning woven into each piece of artwork.
The atmosphere in the room was one of pure warmth and delight. The children beamed with pride as they explained their drawings, clearly thrilled to share their ideas in the company of the Princess. Laughter flowed easily, and a sense of calm confidence filled the space as young voices spoke openly about what makes them feel connected. Her presence as always was kind and fully engaged — creating a moment where creativity, joy, and belonging came vividly to life.
Her Royal Highness The Princess’s engagement builds on the wider work of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which last year published The Shaping Us Framework. This framework outlines the core social and emotional skills that influence how individuals manage emotions, form relationships, communicate, and explore the world. These foundational abilities shape lifelong wellbeing, supporting individuals to thrive during positive times and to navigate adversity with resilience. The work carried out by Place2Be within schools and nurseries plays a vital role in nurturing these capabilities from the earliest stages of life, reinforcing the message that belonging, support, and early care are central to a healthier future for every child.
As Patron of Place2Be, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales continues to demonstrate a deeply personal and unwavering commitment to the emotional wellbeing of children, not only through advocacy but through meaningful presence. Her ability to engage so naturally — kneeling beside a child’s artwork, listening with intent, responding with empathy and encouragement — transforms formal visits into genuine human connection. The children respond instinctively to her warmth and authenticity; their confidence grows, their smiles widen, and their voices strengthen in her company. In these moments, her patronage becomes more than a title — it becomes a living example of compassion in action, reinforcing her belief that every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and that they truly belong.
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