The Princess of Wales paid a visit to a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) inside HMP Styal on Tuesday afternoon, where she sympathised with former prison mothers who suggested their parental support behind bars was better than services in the outside world.

The Princess visited the women’s prison in Wilmslow, Cheshire, to highlight the importance of strong, loving and consistent mother and baby relationships to a child’s development, even in the most challenging of environments.

Catherine, 43, sat down with two former inmates, one who left the prison six weeks ago with her toddler son after serving a 14-month sentence for an undisclosed offence and another who was 30 weeks pregnant when she began an 11-month sentence and gave birth to a daughter in prison.

One of the inmates told Catherine how it was only by being sent to prison that she received “so much” help, something that was unlikely to have been available in her local community.

The future queen replied: “It shouldn’t have to take something like this to get access to something like this…”

She said: “I only left six weeks ago and I am just getting rolling with everything again. Thinking about work, nurseries. I have said so many times that I just wish I could take this (prison) nursery and put it in my home town.”

She added: “It’s hands down the best nursery. My son just ran up to the nursery worker straight away and recognised her just now.”

Action for Children, for which Princess Catherine is patron, runs three MBUs inside prisons in the North of England, all of which provide a dedicated place for new and expectant mothers serving a prison sentence or on remand. Catherine became Patron of Action for Children in 2016.

They work to ensure that babies are exposed to regular experiences such as going on a walk, going shopping and travelling on a bus. Beyond this, they also set up overnight stays with wider family members at their home to bolster the child’s wilder support network.

These prisoners live in a separate area of the prison and are supported by trained prison staff, as well as family support practitioners who work to help women break the cycle of reoffending.

Catherine’s appearance came just a day after it was confirmed that Prince William and Catherine would not be attending this year’s star-studded BAFTAs ceremony in London.

See photos from her visit below…

Arrival at HMP Styal

The Princess was greeted at the main gate by prison governor Nicky Hargreaves.

Carrying an umbrella, she laughed as she had to bend down and manoeuvre her umbrella as the two women tried to squeeze through the gate at the same time.

Catherine’s fourth visit to a prison

As Catherine walked through the prison grounds, dozens of female inmates rushed to catch a glimpse of their royal visitor.

There was a loud wolf-whistle and cat-calls, but also some shouts of: “We need more funding. Tell them the truth!”

This isn’t the first time that the Princess has engaged with mothers in the justice system. In June 2023, she opened Hope Street in Southampton which is a family-friendly residential community piloting a new approach to supporting women in the justice system.

Mother and baby unit

Catherine was surrounded by children’s toys and books as she spoke with staff from the unit.

She told them: “It is great that you are looking at the mother’s wellbeing as well. The best thing for baby is to have a mother whose emotional needs and wellbeing is met as well.”

The mother and baby unit provides a dedicated place for new and expectant mothers serving a prison sentence or on remand.

Prisoners live in a separate area of the institution and are supported to care for their babies by trained prison staff and early years and family support practitioners.

The unit aims to establish and maintain a strong bond between mother and child, in line with evidence that a key psychological process of attachment takes place between babies and their primary caregiver in the initial months of life, which influences later development.

Support for mothers and babies

During her visit, the mother-of-three met with staff and former residents to hear more about the high-quality nursery provision, targeted interventions and parenting support for on-site mothers.

Catherine also paid a visit to the on-site nursery to see where babies and children living on site can learn and play.

 

Overcoming the challenges

Catherine is passionate about the early years and is committed to raising awareness of the importance of early childhood. She created The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in 2021 and launched the Shaping Us campaign in 2023 which she has described as her “life’s work”.

The campaign is aimed at raising the profile of the crucial period of a child’s development, from pregnancy to the age of five.

Amanda Taylor, operational director of children’s services at Action for Children, said: “Given the challenges the mums are going through, it is really important to give the babies the very best start in life.

“The princess’ passion is early years and she understands the impact on the outcome of adulthood happens during these critical early years.

“The babies aren’t prisoners, the babies happen to be living in this environment. So it’s really important for us to give them the best start in life. It’s why the environment for them and their mothers is so important.”

Catherine’s visit to the nursery inside the prison was held in private, with Kensington Palace later sharing a photograph of the Princess holding up a bunny puppet for one youngster.

‘Safe and happy childhood’

She concluded her visit by meeting a group of current prisoners on the MBU to hear about how the charity is supporting them.

And she privately visited a pond in the prison gardens with another inmate to see some of the outside activities the youngsters have access to.