Huge Humpty Dumpty appears in London – and he’s been put back together again

He’s been a symbol of fragility for centuries – but now Humpty Dumpty has been reimagined on a wall in central London, thanks to a new sculpture

A massive Humpty Dumpty sculpture has made a surprise appearance atop a wall in central London, and it appears he’s been mended. The king’s horses and the king’s men have evidently been hard at work, as the towering two-and-a-half metre egg is fully bandaged up. This handcrafted installation, which took 28 days to create and weighs over 85 kilos, is perched on a wall in Potter’s Field.

This follows a study by Yoplait, the creators of Petits Filous, which found that nine out of 10 parents are confident they understand their child’s nutritional needs – but are unsure if they’re meeting them. The survey of 2,000 parents with children aged four to 10 revealed that 58% regularly worry about whether they’re providing their little one with the right nutrition, despite claiming their knowledge is good.

It highlighted such confusion, with 28% unsure about sugar content in food, 25% unclear about what constitutes a ‘balanced diet’, and 24% struggling to identify signs of nutrient deficiencies. Furthermore, 34% blame unclear food labels, while 29% simply lack access to the expert advice they need.

Yoplait reports that calcium intake has dropped significantly over the past decade, and nearly 20% of 4 to 10 year olds are now deficient in vitamin D each spring, putting their long-term bone health at serious risk. However, many parents mistakenly believe this is a problem for later life, missing the chance to strengthen bones while they’re still growing.

The brand has joined forces with popular children’s author and father-of-three, Tom Fletcher, to kickstart a nationwide campaign addressing the hidden crisis of childhood calcium and vitamin D deficiency. The campaign begins with a fresh take on nursery rhyme icon Humpty Dumpty. Once seen as fragile, Humpty is now reimagined to bounce back stronger, underlining the significance of calcium and vitamin D in developing healthy bones from a young age.

Tom Fletcher commented: “As a parent, I know how easy it is to get caught up in the chaos of daily life – and nutrition can sometimes take a back seat. “But what people don’t realise is that calcium and vitamin D deficiency in children is quite common. If kids don’t get enough during their crucial growing years, it can have a lasting impact on their bone health. “The great news is that it’s easy to make a difference.

“Something as simple as adding a fortified yoghurt to their daily routine can give them the calcium and vitamin D they need to build healthy bones. I loved reimagining the Humpty Dumpty rhyme for this campaign – it’s such a lovely and playful way to deliver a serious message. Humpty’s great fall is the perfect reminder of what can happen when we don’t build our kids up properly from the inside out.”

Research indicates that a significant part of the crisis is due to confusion caused by social media myths, changing trends, and conflicting health advice steering parents away from reliable sources of nutrition. Almost three in 10 Brits shun yoghurt due to worries over sugar or artificial sweeteners, often swayed by online misinformation.

While over half recognise brittle bones, delayed growth (40%), and rickets (40%) as signs of calcium or vitamin D deficiency, this knowledge doesn’t always lead to action. It was also revealed that 31% find it challenging to get their children to consume enough nutrient-dense foods, while 22% are unsure about how much of each nutrient their child requires, and the same number have never heard of food fortification.

Speaking in collaboration with Yoplait, which has teamed up with Mumsnet and the National Schools Partnership to reach thousands of families at home and in schools to promote action and awareness, dietitian Dr. Carrie Ruxton stated: “Many parents still underestimate the value of simple foods like fortified yoghurts, which are packed with the nutrients kids need.”

“There’s been a trend towards parents swapping out yoghurts for less nutritious options like biscuits or unfortified snacks but this would have the effect of limiting the essential nutrients that children need for growth and development.”

“Antoine Hours, from the brand, added: “Parents are navigating conflicting advice about nutrition, leaving them often uncertain about whether their children are getting the right nutrients. Small dietary changes, like adding calcium-rich foods such as fortified yoghurt, can have a significant impact.

“Humpty Dumpty has always been a symbol of fragility. With Tom Fletcher’s updated version of the story, he serves as the perfect icon to remind parents and children alike of the importance of nutrition in growing up strong and resilient.”

DR. CARRIE RUXTON’S QUICK WINS FOR BUILDING HEALTHIER BONES:

1. Aim to give kids 2-3 dairy servings a day to maximise calcium and healthy protein intakes. This can include milk, fortified yoghurts and cheese as snacks or part of meals.
2. Check food labels for the calcium and vitamin D content – and don’t fear ‘fortified’.
3. Get kids outside to enjoy outdoor play for a natural vitamin D boost and remember to slap on sun cream in summer. Jumping and running stimulates bone density helping your child develop stronger more resilient bones.
4. Give your kids a daily vitamin D supplement as recommended by healthcare professionals. Ask your pharmacist if you are unsure about the dosage or which products to buy.