Catherine's essay continues her war on distraction
Royal Clubber Audrey returns to heap praise on the 'Princess of Presence'
Hello, Royal Clubbers, it’s Audrey.
The Princess of Wales offered a rare direct public comment with her recent essay on the vital importance of promoting lifelong health and happiness by preserving family connection from digital distraction. This was a notable addition to the ongoing conversation not just because of her authorship, but because it offers a distinct and thoughtful perspective within the broader conversation about screens and family life.
Instead of focusing as most commentators do on children’s consumption of digital media, the Princess instead directs her essay to parents. To help children thrive, she urged parents to model attention, listening, and committed conversation — to embody, in short, the value of presence.
Though the directness of the Princess’ commentary was unusual, the emphasis on the primacy of presence is very much aligned with her public persona and broader body of work. At its root lies her abiding reverence for nature. The vastness and cyclicality of the natural world is calming and regulating, inspiring mindful awareness and a sense of interconnectedness with the universe. From that grounding awareness comes the ability to see and support others, fully and without diversion.
Indeed, presence is the golden thread through so many of the Princess’s initiatives. From her championship of early childhood development to her recognition of community volunteers, she consistently highlights those who embody attentiveness and emotional commitment. Her patient and dedicated demeanour offer validation to people and causes that might otherwise be undervalued.
Perhaps the greatest gift of presence is that it generates gratitude. This special connection lies at the heart of her Together at Christmas programmes at Westminster Abbey, which have become her signature. Each year, the programme recognises and gives thanks for a different facet of presence: honouring community support workers in 2021; reflecting on Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy of compassionate duty in 2022; spotlighting the strength of family and community networks in 2023; and celebrating love, empathy, and kindness as enduring sources of resilience last year.
This year, her theme was announced as a celebration of those who make extraordinary contributions through community service, perhaps the highest level of presence that we can achieve.
By using her platform in this way, the Princess captures the quiet power at the heart of the monarchy’s appeal – the ability to recognise the profound value of everyday virtues in the grandest of locations, where the monarch has been crowned for 1,000 years. In doing so, just as I previously wrote about the Prince, the Princess has positioned herself to make people feel seen, reassured and deeply valued.
This is really quite extraordinary. Both Catherine and William are already achieving a vision of Monarchy that is completely different from older generations and one that actually makes sense to this American, anyway. They understand themselves as leaders with a great deal of soft power: that is, the ability to influence the British population--and I dare say, the world--to value the earth we live in, toward being kinder to others, and to live lives of greater genuineness, ethical awareness, authenticity and purpose. I couldn't admire them more.
Unfortunately it is not televised in the US.