Melania Trump has launched her multipronged effort to promote the well-being of children, amid reports she is leading a largely separate life from her husband, US President Donald Trump.

The first lady formally launched her long-awaited initiative after more than a year of reading to children, learning about babies born addicted to drugs and hosting a White House conversation on cyberbullying.

"As a mother and as first lady, it concerns me that in today's fast-paced and ever-connected world, children can be less prepared to express or manage their emotions and often times turn to forms of destructive or addictive behaviour such as bullying, drug addiction or even suicide," Mrs Trump said in prepared remarks.

"I feel strongly that as adults, we can and should 'be best' at educating our children about the importance of a healthy and balanced life," she said of her "BE BEST" initiative.

Today's announcement followed a period of high visibility for a first lady who once had a scant public presence around the White House.

"I feel strongly that as adults, we can and should 'be best' at educating our children about the importance of a healthy and balanced life." (AP) (AP)

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Close friends of the Trumps have revealed the couple live largely separate lives and on different schedules, the Washington Post claims .

"They spend very little to no time together,” one of the US president's long-time friends said, speaking anonymously.

Sources have told the Post the pair rarely dine together at the White House.

Mrs Trump is also rarely seen when Mr Trump retires to his Mar-a-Lago resort on holidays or weekends.

Close friends of the Trumps have revealed the couple live largely separate lives and on different schedules. (AP) (AP)

"She is a dignified, private person, and she’ll deal with her personal life in private and it’s no one’s business,” Mrs Trump's friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff told the Post. (AP) (AP)

Previously Mrs Trump has been seen resisting her husband's touch, even swatting away his hand on one occasion.

"She is a dignified, private person, and she’ll deal with her personal life in private and it’s no one’s business,” Mrs Trump's friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff told the Post.

“They are not that couple that holds hands just because.

"She is old-world European and it’s not who she is.”

Last month, Mrs Trump joined her husband to host the prime minister of Japan at the Trumps' Florida estate and the president of France at the White House. She also represented the administration at the April funeral of former first lady Barbara Bush.

"They spend very little to no time together,” one of the US president's long-time friends said, speaking anonymously. (AP) (AP)

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The first lady said early on in her husband's presidency that she would focus on child wellbeing. The goal of her new public awareness campaign is to encourage parents and other adults to teach children how to be good citizens, including being kind, not bullying on or off social media, staying away from drugs and taking care of themselves.

The campaign will focus on the issues of wellbeing, social media and opioid abuse, she said.

"If we truly listen to what our kids have to say, whether it be their concerns or ideas, adults can provide them the support and tools they need to grow up to be happy and productive adults who contribute positively to society and their global communities," Mrs Trump said.

Mrs Trump made the announcement in the White House Rose Garden as President Donald Trump looked on from the audience.

Mrs Trump made the announcement in the White House Rose Garden as President Donald Trump looked on from the audience. (AP) (AP)

Mrs Trump's announcement also came as her husband remains under intense legal pressure from a special counsel's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.