Phones creating 'epidemic of disconnection' in families, says Princess of Wales

The Princess of Wales has said smartphones and computer screens create "an epidemic of disconnection" within families.

Kate's words - in an essay co-written with a Harvard professor - come ahead of a visit to Oxford to highlight her work on early years education and support.

In the piece, she says that "while new technology has many benefits, we must also acknowledge that it plays a complex and often troubling role in this epidemic of disconnection".

"While digital devices promise to keep us connected, they frequently do the opposite," writes the princess .

"Our smartphones, tablets, and computers have become sources of constant distraction, fragmenting our focus and preventing us from giving others the undivided attention that relationships require."

Emphasising how she believes