The Duke of Cambridge has recorded this video message to support today's #StandUpToBullying Day

Following in his mother's footsteps...

Today marks the first ever National Stand Up To Bullying Day, and to commemorate the event spearheaded by The Diana Award, The Duke of Cambridge has recorded a video message to show his support.

‘It is our collective responsibility to be alert, and to be ready to challenge the behaviour we see around us’, said his Royal Highness in the message, recorded at Kensington Palace. ‘We all have a role to play to ensure that we do not stand by, but instead stand up, and put a stop to bullying’ he continued, going on to highlight how the issue can affect any one of us, damaging young people in particular.

The Diana Award was set up as ‘a lasting legacy to Princess Diana’s belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better’, running Anti-Bullying Campaigns supported by her sons The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

The award, praised for giving young people the skills, confidence and training to tackle all forms of bullying, recently commissioned a YouGov survey, revealing the shocking scale of bullying in society, with 64% of the 18-55 year-olds featured believing that bullying is widespread.

The UK survey found that over two thirds of adults know someone who has been bullied, 81% reporting bullying as common in schools and 56% reporting the behaviour as rife at work. Yet still, over a third of us wouldn’t stand up to the behaviour, whether it was targeted at ourselves or someone else.

That’s where #StandUpToBullying Day comes in, calling for change. The Diana Award’s campaign is encouraging everyone to take a physical or visible stand against all forms of bullying behaviour, offering ideas and resources on its website.

‘This campaign goes beyond the 1 in 2 people affected by bullying; it is about everyone, every single one of us taking the collective responsibility to tackle bullying’, explained Tessy Ojo, CEO of the Diana Award. ‘It is also about changing the perceived view that bullying is a rite of passage’.

‘We’re urging everyone to get behind Stand Up To Bullying Day today’ she continued, ‘Make a pledge to do something different, to act differently and to offer kindness, whenever and wherever possible, because being a bystander, simply makes us a part of the problem.’