The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton has revealed her own Centre for Early Childhood, to raise awareness of the importance of early years and help “transform lives”.

A royal aide said Catherine felt early childhood was the “social equivalent to climate change” but it was not discussed “with the same seriousness”.

Kensington Palace described the center as “a landmark step” in her work. The duchess said she wanted to “create a happier, more mentally healthy, more nurturing society”.

An aide said the development would shape her future focus as a senior royal.

“The duchess has made the observation that the more you learn about the science of early childhood, whether it’s brain development, social science, what it means for our adult mental health, the more you realise that this is the social equivalent to climate change,” they said.

The center cements a decade of work in public life, during which she has seen that so many of life’s challenges, from mental health to addiction, can be rooted in difficulties faced by children and their families in the first five years.