Prince Charles: Covid pandemic has made teenagers’ lives ‘infinitely worse’
The Prince of Wales has said the lives of teenagers have been made “infinitely worse” by the “dreadful” Covid pandemic that robbed them of social interaction.
Prince Charles said young people had been separated from their friends, “cut off from confidence-building challenges” and “denied the social experiences” previous generations took for granted.
In a speech at the Prince’s Trust Awards, he called on Britain to “believe in our young people so they can start believing in themselves” again.
The awards show was held at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and will be broadcast on television for the first time on ITV on Thursday night.
Opening his speech, the Prince joked he may become “a commercial break without realising” in the final cut.
“We are here today in the wake, of course, of a dreadful pandemic which has affected education, employment, families and childhoods,” he told guests including hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, Amal Clooney, Felicity Kendall and Bridgerton actors Phoebe Dynevor and Jonathan Bailey.
“We still do not know the extent of the disruption in the long term, but we do know that many are still experiencing isolation and loneliness, and that more young people across the world are growing up fearful of the future.
“Listening to young people, I know the journey from childhood to adulthood, from school to work, can be an anxious and turbulent time, even for those in the most fortunate of circumstances.
“But the pitfalls of this journey have been made infinitely worse for so many today – separated from their school friends, cut off from confidence-building challenges and denied the social experiences that we all took for granted.”
The Prince said he “never fails to be moved” by the way each award winner “has overcome the most daunting obstacles”, telling them: “I cannot tell you how proud it makes me of all of them.”
Presenting the award show for the 10th year, Ant and Dec told the audience the Prince always has a disappointed look on his face when he sees the duo and says “Oh no, not you two again.” Dec added: “Classic HRH bantz.”
In return, Prince Charles began his own time on stage with the words: “Welcome to the Ant and Dec Tuesday afternoon takeaway."
This year’s Prince’s Trust Award winners include Olivia Blackburn, 24, from Carnoustie, Scotland, who took home the Homesense Young Achiever of the Year Award for overcoming health challenges and a disrupted education to become a healthcare support worker for the NHS.
After her career began with a six-week course run by the Prince’s Trust, she is now working on the haemotology ward where her mother is receiving treatment after her career began with a six-week course run by the Prince’s Trust.
Among the other winners was Charlotte Wookey, from Cwmbran, won the breakthrough award after recovering from drug addiction and homelessness at the age of 16. She now has a job with her local dog shelter.
