But it was left to safety watchdog RoSPA yesterday to spell out William’s message – that youngsters must be allowed to play dangerous games.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is even calling for the provision of supervised “wild areas” where children can escape the restrictions of the nanny state.

RoSPA came in for some stick from parents yesterday over its attitude to dangerous games such as climbing trees.
But Peter Cornall, head of leisure safety at the society, believes children will learn “valuable life-long lessons” by picking up minor injuries.

The society also fears that high-profile child abduction cases have helped to make modern parents over-cautious.

Recent reports have suggested that too many parents deny their children the chance to play outside by themselves in case they get hurt.

And research for the Children’s Society found 43 per cent of adults think youngsters should not be allowed out with their friends until they are 14 or over.

What do YOU think? Are we wrapping our children up in cotton wool instead of letting them grow up?