Princess of Wales and Roman Kemp team up to tackle mental health with humour, heart and bare feet

Down-to-earth royal moments and serious chats that actually matter – a royal team-up with soul

When Catherine, Princess of Wales reached out to British radio and TV host Roman Kemp about his work on mental health, it wasn’t just a polite exchange. It blossomed into something genuinely impactful. The Princess is deeply invested in mental health and early childhood support through her Shaping Us campaign. She invited Roman to collaborate on a short film to spark meaningful conversations about emotional wellbeing. This initiative is especially for young people and those who love them.

Tea, biscuits and barefoot banter

One of the most delightful chapters of their collaboration unfolded when Catherine accepted Roman’s suggestion to film part of the project at his family’s home. While some might picture royal protocol and glittering shoes, the Princess instead stepped over the threshold and promptly took off her footwear. She joined the Kemp household’s “no shoes inside” rule with nothing but socks on her royal feet. Roman later described it as “surreal” to see a member of the royal family wandering about in socks with parents, pets and tea in hand.

The informal vibe was no accident. Sitting around the kitchen counter with Roman’s mum, dad and even the dogs nearby, the candid setting helped bring authenticity to a conversation about mental health that was both earnest and accessible. It wasn’t about pomp — it was about people.

From documentary roots to real-life connection

Roman Kemp is no stranger to mental health advocacy. His own BBC documentary Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency explored the deeply personal and societal impacts of male mental health struggles after the tragic loss of his friend Joe Lyons. That film became a touchpoint for Catherine’s outreach. It prompted their collaboration under the Shaping Us umbrella to connect emotional wellbeing with early childhood development and community support.

This meeting of minds — and socks! — gave audiences something far more meaningful than a polished soundbite. It was a reminder that talking openly about how we feel, and why we feel that way. And that this is something we all can do together, even over a cuppa in someone’s kitchen.

Watch them chat (video link)

Here’s a great clip featuring Catherine, Princess of Wales and Roman Kemp in conversation about mental health and healthy relationships as part of the Shaping Us initiative:

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A public hug from Martin Kemp

When Catherine, Princess of Wales publicly shared her cancer diagnosis, one of the warmest and most heartfelt responses came from Martin Kemp. He didn’t hold back in showing his support. Taking to social media, Martin posted a message full of love, strength and solidarity. He sending his best wishes from his whole family to Catherine and her family during an unimaginably tough time. It was one of those moments where celebrity melts away and humanity takes centre stage. A proud dad standing up for a woman who had shown such kindness to his family, returning that same care when it mattered most. Quietly powerful, deeply decent and exactly the kind of compassion Catherine herself champions.

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