Princess Kate visited the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) at HMP Styal on Tuesday afternoon, shedding light on the significance of nurturing mother-baby relationships within challenging environments.
Located in Wilmslow, Cheshire, the women’s prison visit reflects Kate’s strong commitment to early childhood development. At 43, she is an ardent advocate for early years initiatives and established The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in 2021.
Her recent Shaping Us campaign, launched in 2023, is described as her “life’s work,” focusing on the critical development phase from pregnancy through age five.
As patron of Action for Children since 2016, Kate supports their efforts, which include operating three MBUs in Northern England. These special units provide a safe environment for new and expectant mothers who are incarcerated or in custody.
The initiative ensures that babies have opportunities for regular activities, such as walks, shopping trips, and bus rides, and facilitates overnight stays with family to strengthen the child’s support network.
Mothers residing in these units benefit from trained prison staff and family support practitioners, who assist them in breaking the cycle of reoffending.
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During her visit, Kate met with staff and former residents to learn about the high-quality nursery facilities, targeted interventions, and parenting support available to mothers on-site.
Additionally, she toured the nursery, observing where babies and young children can engage in learning and play while living within the prison environment.
