A FAMILIES minister is set to meet with royalty during a discussion on the importance of early childhood.

Colchester MP Will Quince will team up with the Duchess of Cambridge on Thursday (JUNE 16) after research revealed 70 per cent of people believe early childhood should be prioritised more.

The duchess will host the discussion which is expected to focus on findings by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood showing nine in ten agree early years are important in shaping lives.

However, less than a fifth – 17 per cent - recognise the unique importance of children’s development from birth to the age of five.

Gazette: Discussion - the Duchess of CambridgeDiscussion - the Duchess of Cambridge

Alongside the royal foundation, the duchess will meet Health Secretary Sajid Javid, families minister Will Quince, representatives from the early years sector and officials from the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care.

She said: “Our experiences in early childhood fundamentally impact our whole life and set the foundation for how we go on to thrive as individuals, with one another, as a community and as a society.

“The findings published today present us with a huge opportunity and demonstrate there is real appetite from the public to bring this issue up all of our agendas.”