Princess of Wales displays framed photos of her husband Prince William and her children George, Charlotte and Louis in her new video offering a heartwarming message to those struggling with addiction
- Kate, 40, chose a sweet photo of George and Charlotte from 2018 to display
- Mother also had a photo from her and William’s 2019 Pakistan tour framed
- The couple’s 2020 Christmas card photo takes pride of place on sideboard
The Princess of Wales proudly displayed three framed pictures of her family in a new video message offering a heartwarming message to those struggling with addiction.
In the clip, released this morning, the mother-of-three appears to be speaking from her home as she films the campaign message to mark the first day of Addiction Awareness Week.
The royal, patron of addiction recovery charity The Forward Trust, said addiction is ‘a serious health condition’ and ‘not a choice’ in the video which kicked off the Taking Action on Addiction campaign.
Alongside a vase of flowers and gold lamp, a selection of family photos, featuring Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince William, take pride of place on the wooden sideboard in the background.
Kate Middleton has today released a message of support for those suffering with addiction, urging them to not let shame hold them back from asking for help. The Princess of Wales had three family photos proudly on display in the background
The Prince and Princess of Wales exchange a loving glance while wearing regimental caps of the Chitral Scouts during their November 2019 Pakistan tour. This sweet image was one of three that the mother-of-three had on display
Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, seven, pictured on their first day at school together in September 2018. This is the second image the Princess chose to display for her recent video message
Taken at their Norfolk home Amner Hall, the Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured perching on a hay bale with their three children in autumn 2020. As well as selecting it for their Christmas card that year, the Prince and Princess have kept a framed copy for their sideboard
On the left-hand side, the Princess, 41, has a framed photo taken during her and Prince William’s Pakistan five-day tour in November 2019.
The sweet photo shows the royal couple exchanging a loving glance while wearing regimental caps of the Chitral Scouts.
While the then-Duchess of Cambridge’s printed yellow hat was topped with pink peacock feathers, Prince William’s traditional headwear featured a white metal badge in the shape of a screw-horned goat.
Next to this sweet image with her husband, Kate has placed a photo of Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, seven, on their first day at school together in September 2018.
The Princess of Wales, patron of addiction recovery charity The Forward Trust, said addiction is ‘a serious health condition’ and ‘not a choice’
The couple’s two eldest children were pictured in their navy-and-red matching uniforms on the steps of Kensington Palace shortly before they left for St Thomas’s Battersea.
Prince George had been attending the £20,000-a-year school in South West London for two years when his sister joined the school in 2018.
Kate’s message of support in full
Addiction is a serious mental health condition that can happen to anyone, no matter what age, gender, race or nationality.
As Patron of The Forward Trust, I have met many people who have suffered from the effects of addiction.
Attitudes to addiction are changing. But we are not there yet, and we need to be. Still the shame of addiction is stopping people and families asking for help and people are still tragically losing their lives.
We as a society need to recognise that the only way to help those suffering is to try and understand what has led them to addiction, to empathise with them and to be compassionate to their struggles.
And so today, during Addiction Awareness Week, I want to share a message of support to those who are continuing to suffer.
Please know that addiction is not a choice. No one chooses to become an addict.
I want you to know that this is also a serious health condition. Please do not let shame hold you back from getting the help you so desperately need.
The charities leading the Taking Action on Addiction Campaign, along with others, are working across the country delivering life changing work to help people recover and move forward.
They are here for you. So please ask for help.
I know this was not a choice. Recovery is possible.
Following the family’s move to Windsor earlier this year, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have all been enrolled in the Berkshire-based £21,000-a-year Lambrook prep school.
The final photo the Princess had on display for the video message was the same portrait her and William chose for their Christmas card back in 2020.
Taken at their Norfolk home Anmer Hall in autumn 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured perching on a hay bale with their three children.
While Princess Charlotte sits on her mother’s lap, Prince George lovingly leans on William as a then two-year-old Prince Louis beams for the camera in the middle.
During her video message, Kate said society must recognise that ‘the only way to help those suffering is to try and understand what has led them to addiction’.
She said others must ’empathise with them’, and be ‘compassionate’.
The Princess of Wales said: ‘And so today, during Addiction Awareness Week, I want to share a message of support to those who are continuing to suffer.
‘Please know that addiction is not a choice. No one chooses to become an addict.
‘I want you to know that this is also a serious health condition. Please do not let shame hold you back from getting the help you so desperately need.
‘The charities leading the Taking Action on Addiction Campaign, along with others, are working across the country delivering life changing work to help people recover and move forward.’
‘They are here for you. So please ask for help. I know this was not a choice. Recovery is possible.’
The Taking Action on Addiction campaign aims to reframe existing perceptions of addiction, build awareness of the causes and nature of addiction, improve understanding, reduce prejudice and enable more people to get help.
Mike Trace, chief executive of The Forward Trust, said: ‘Addiction Awareness Week speaks directly to people impacted by addiction, offering support and understanding so that more people ask for and receive help.’
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