Judy Murray: It’s the smallest acts of kindness that make biggest difference. We should try to do more

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they are expecting their second baby, and released this beautiful photograph to mark the occasion.

The moment was made even more special by the fact the couple shared the news on Valentine’s Day, the same day, 37 years ago, Princess Diana revealed she was pregnant with Harry.

The pair look so loved up, and it’s wonderful that they have found happiness after suffering a miscarriage last year. Talk may turn to possible baby names for now, but the couple’s happy news was overshadowed as they revealed they will not return as working royals.

However, they have filmed an “intimate conversation” with Oprah Winfrey. Set to be broadcast on US TV next month, it will delve into “life as a royal, marriage and motherhood” as well as how Meghan handles life in the public eye.

I’m sure there will be millions of people keen to hear what they have to say – including members of the royal family!

Let’s be kind 

With our everyday lives turned upside down almost overnight by the pandemic, we’ve all spent time looking into the future, trying to guess what legacy coronavirus might leave behind.

Will we ever return to the daily grind of the office nine-to-five? Are masks here to stay? Will crowded places ever feel normal again? Are handshakes and hugging a thing of the past? Those are just a few of the questions for which we don’t yet have definitive answers.

But if there’s one thing we do know, I think it’s that we’ve all learned to be a little kinder to one another.

Last week, I was touched by the story of 82-year-old Raymond Nicholls, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, who has been given a job in his local café after the owner worried he was suffering from lockdown depression and isolation.

Clearing cups and serving takeaway coffees for just one hour a day, Raymond admitted: “Without the café I’d have practically no other interaction with anyone.” He’s now delighted to be getting out of the house and playing a small role in the community. Isn’t that fabulous?

The kind-hearted owner, Mike Lowe, said he felt compelled to do something to help, and this wonderful gesture made me think – before Covid, just how many of us would have found the time to do the same? Unfortunately, not many, but I really do believe lockdown has made us rediscover our compassionate, caring side.

The pandemic has gone on for so long now, and when you add seasonal depression, poor weather and fewer daylight hours into the mix, it’s easy to see why many people are feeling the strain – particularly those who are older, less mobile or living alone. Previously, we might have found it all too easy to turn a blind eye but, now we are all in the same boat, our eyes have been well and truly opened to the very real – and certainly not new – issue of loneliness. Plus, mental health has become a bigger talking point, with less stigma attached to talking openly about depression and anxiety, so there’s a better understanding of the impact.

To combat my own lacklustre lockdown, I’ve gotten really good at phoning different friends to meet up for a walk. I get some fresh air and exercise, see a well kent face (at a distance) and it really does make the world of difference for both of us. It puts a smile on my face and a spring in my step and, momentarily, gets me away from the doom and gloom of the news.

So, if you take one thing away from this week’s column, I hope it’s the inspiration to stop and say hello to a neighbour, call a friend for a check-in, or make plans for a socially-distanced walk. Often it’s the smallest gestures that make the biggest difference.