Princess of Wales visits UEL to launch new resource Guide

The Princess of Wales visited the University of East London to launch a new resource guide. 

The Royal Foundation’s Centre for Early Childhood—which was founded by the Princess of Wales in 2021 after seeing how many of today’s hardest social challenges often have their roots in the earliest years of life—has created a new resource for everyone working with babies, young children, and their families.

Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development is designed to strengthen understanding across the early years system of why social and emotional development matters so profoundly, and how these skills begin to take shape from the very earliest months of life. Grounded in science and practical insight, and developed with early childhood experts, professionals, and practitioners, the guide highlights the vital role of loving, responsive relationships in shaping children’s lifelong health and wellbeing.

Her Royal Highness penned the foreword of the guide, saying in part,

In a world which feels increasingly distracted, fragmented and digital, where life’s pace, noise and interruptions can be overwhelming, I believe it is more important than ever to invest in what truly helps us to thrive: human connection. (…) Embedding this understanding into training and ongoing professional development across the early years will help to ensure that parents, carers and practitioners receive consistent and accurate support in nurturing this vital part of human development.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone working with the youngest members of our society today. Your work has a profound and lasting impact. You are not just helping to raise the next generation; you are shaping a more connected and resilient future. Because childhood is not just a beginning—it is our lifelong reference point. Now is the moment to place care and connection at the heart of all we do, and to shape a future in which love can truly flourish.

To mark the launch of the new resource for those caring for children, the Princess of Wales visited the University of East London’s Institute for the Science of Early Years (ISEY). The Princess met families with babies and young children to discuss new research from the Centre for Early Childhood, The First Five Years: A Parent Perspective. The research highlights that parents value opportunities to speak with knowledgeable, trusted practitioners and want clear, authoritative information from formal sources, particularly at a time when reassurance and consistency matter most.

Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

A special moment came when Catherine met Mikail (3), who was wearing one of the pioneering state-of-the-art wearable sensors that observe play in real time.

“Well done, you! You did so well,” the Princess told Mikail after having his ECG adhesive patches removed.

The future Queen also visited the with students involved with early years courses. Her Royal Highness then met with Vice-Chancellors and Further Education College Chief Executives from across the United Kingdom.

Kensington Palace announced earlier in the day that the Princess of Wales would embark on her first overseas travel since 2022, visiting Italy, as the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood expands internationally.