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Prince & Princess of Wales

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the BBC to highlight work to combat cyberbullying

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived at the BBC to mark Anti-Bullying Week and will view the work that the broadcaster is doing as a key member of the Duke’s Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will meet young people who worked on the new campaign video for “Stop, Speak, Support”, which is a code of conduct to provide guidance on what to do when you witness bullying online. The Duke of Cambridge announced the new code of conduct last year.

Speaking at the launch event, Prince William said: “As a parent myself, I understand the sense of loss and anger of those particular families who have lost children after they were the targets of campaigns of harassment,

“I feel a responsibility to do what I can to help.”

Kensington Palace released a video last year which featured the Duke of Cambridge speaking to a mother who lost her son to bullying and Chloe, who was cyberbullied when she was 13.

Chloe said: “I started to self-harm as a way to cope, to make me feel better, and then I decided that I couldn’t take this anymore and I tried to end my life.”

Encouraging both of the women, Prince William said: “I only wish that neither of you had gone through what you’ve gone through.

“I think it is worth reminding everyone what the human tragedy of what we are talking about here,

“It isn’t just about companies and about online stuff. It’s actually real lives that get affected.”

The “Stop, Speak, Support” campaign began on the panel of the task force and is now being run by the Anti-Bullying Alliance. Materials for the campaign is rolling out to thousands of schools across the country.

Their Royal Highnesses will meet with parents and children who are helping to guide the latest technological developments from the BBC to help young people online. They will then join the BBC Director General Lord Hall for the announcement of the BBC’s latest initiative.

His Royal Highness and The Royal Foundation convened the Taskforce in May 2016 to support young people and their families affected by cyberbullying, with a focus on 11 to 16-year-olds.