RF. Kate Middleton Reveals Prince Louis Is Using a 'Feelings Wheel' at School to Help Describe Emotions

The Princess of Wales said it helps her youngest son and his classmates share “how they feel that day”

Prince Louis of Wales helps his mother, Catherine, Princess of Wales, take part in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough on May 8, 2023 — Kate Middleton and Prince Louis at the Big Help Out in May. PHOTO:

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Kate Middleton says Prince Louis is learning to express himself with a cool tool.

The Princess of Wales, 41, revealed that her 5-year-old son and his classmates are using a “feelings wheel” at school to help them describe their emotions. Princess Kate shared the update while making her way into the Shaping Us National Symposium at The Design Museum in London on Wednesday morning, where she delivered the keynote speech.

Before she entered the auditorium, Princess Kate spoke to host and British radio and TV star Fearne Cotton about the project.

“Louis’ class, they came back with a feelings wheel — it’s really good. These are 5 or 6-year-olds and going with names or pictures of a color that represents how they feel that day, so there is a real keenness in school particularly to get involved in conversations,” said Princess Kate, who also shares children Prince George, 10, and Princess Charlotte, 8, with husband Prince William. The three siblings attend the Lambrook School in the Berkshire countryside, not far from the family’s home in Windsor.

Prince Louis of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. — MAX MUMBY/INDIGO/GETTY

“It’s actually helping continuity across the board and then how does that feed into you, with your mental health — it’s same conversation, so to be able to find a bit of framework to talk about this, is very important,” she continued.

The Princess of Wales then said she was ready for her key speech — but admitted to some jitters!

When Cotton asked how she was feeling ahead of the address, Kate replied, “Good but nervous, but excited too.”

Catherine, Princess of Wales is greeted by Fearne Cotton as she arrives for the Shaping Us National Symposium at Design Museum on November 15, 2023 in London, England — Kate Middleton chats with Fearne Cotton as she arrives for the Shaping Us National Symposium in London on November 15.

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“So nice to see it all coming together and different people along with it,” she added. “All of us are still learning and sharing experiences with each other.”

Princess Kate proceeded to deliver the keynote at the inaugural symposium from her Shaping Us campaign, which she launched in January under the umbrella of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The conference brought together cross-disciplinary leaders, child and adult specialists, and global thinkers for a day of conversation on the scientific, economic and human cases for prioritizing the early childhood years.

The Shaping Us campaign aims to “increase public understanding of the crucial importance of the first five years of a child’s life” and bring scientific interest into “one of the most strategically important topics of our time,” according to the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. Kate created the center within her and Prince William’s larger Royal Foundation in June 2021 to raise awareness of the importance of the first five years of life and advance outcomes for a brighter society.

Pushing the cause forward, the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood instituted new research involving 21 countries around the world. It also marked the Princess of Wales’ first time working with global leaders in this lane and is her “signaling” that she wants this to be worldwide, those close to her say.

Gracing the stage at the symposium, Princess Kate began, “People often ask me why I focus my time on early childhood. The answer is because I care deeply about making a positive difference, in helping the most vulnerable and supporting those who are most in need.”

Catherine, Princess of Wales makes a key note speech during the Shaping Us National Symposium at Design Museum — Kate Middleton speaks on stage at the Shaping Us National Symposium on November 15.

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“This is not just about the youngest children in our society, who are, by their very nature, vulnerable. It is also about the many young people and adults who are suffering,” she explained.

“We must do more than simply meet the short-term needs of these individuals. We must also look at creating long-term, preventative change. And that takes us right back to the beginning.”

As the Shaping Us campaign kicked off in January, a spokesman told PEOPLE that her childhood work “will be a golden thread throughout [Kate’s] working life.”

Catherine, Princess of Wales takes her seat as she prepares to listen to speakers at the "Shaping Us" National Symposium at Design Museum — Kate Middleton at the Shaping Us National Symposium on November 15.

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And her experience and passion for the field are appreciated around the world. Prof. Jack Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, met Kate last December when she and Prince William were in Boston for the Earthshot Prize and told PEOPLE at the time that the princess “has obviously thought about this a lot.”

“I see her as very motivated in having an impact on the world. She is personally an understated person, there was no sense of an ego in the room. You really get a sense that she understands the power of her platform and has a desire to do good and make a difference,” said Shonkoff, who was a speaker at the symposium.