- HRH The Princess of Wales visited the University of East London’s Stratford Health Campus on 6 May 2026.
- The event marked the launch of Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development, a Royal Foundation publication.
- The guide is aimed at early‑years professionals, health workers and families and focuses on children from pregnancy to age five.
- The launch coincided with broader efforts by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to strengthen support systems for young children across the UK.
A Guide to Social and Emotional Development at the University of East London (UEL) today. The new resource, produced by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, is designed to help early‑years practitioners, health‑care workers, educators and families support babies and young children in building healthy relationships, emotional regulation and resilience. The visit took place at UEL’s Stratford Health Campus, underlining the institution’s role as a hub for early‑years research and training.
Her Royal Highness arrived at the University of East London on Wednesday 6 May 2026 to formally launch Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development. The event brought together early‑years professionals, university staff and representatives from the Royal Foundation, as well as families and children taking part in related research activities.
The guide focuses on how caregivers and professionals can nurture social and emotional skills from pregnancy through age five, emphasising secure attachments, consistent routines and responsive communication. At the launch, the Princess spoke with parents and early‑years practitioners about their experiences of supporting young children, drawing on evidence from longitudinal studies and developmental science.
Social and emotional development in the early years is widely recognised as a key foundation for lifelong mental health, learning and behaviour. By launching a structured, evidence‑based guide, the initiative aims to equip the workforce and families with practical tools during a period when the brain is especially sensitive to experiences.
HRH The Princess of Wales marking the launch of Foundations for Life at the University of East London today. pic.twitter.com/jJYBMkv8vv
— Anna (@tokkianami) May 6, 2026
The Princess has previously described early childhood as “the building blocks” of resilience, pointing to links between adverse early experiences and later challenges such as poor mental health, addiction and family breakdown. Foundations for Life therefore ties into her broader mission through The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which seeks to raise awareness and drive coordinated action across health, education and social care.
The guide is intended primarily for early‑years practitioners, nursery and preschool staff, health visitors, midwives, paediatric nurses and school‑based staff working with very young children. It is also designed to support parents, carers and community workers who may not have formal training in child development but play a critical role in day‑to‑day care.
Children from conception to age five are the direct beneficiaries, particularly those in more vulnerable or disadvantaged settings where access to developmental support may be limited. In the longer term, the resource could influence teacher training, parenting‑support programmes and local‑authority early‑years strategies across England and potentially beyond.
The Royal Foundation and UEL have indicated that Foundations for Life will be rolled out through a series of workshops, online modules and briefing packs for local‑authority early‑years teams. The hope is that the material will be integrated into existing training for early‑years educators and health professionals, as well as shared with parents via children’s centres and digital platforms.
The Princess’s engagement with the guide also signals a continuation of her long‑term “Shaping Us” campaign, which aims to shift public and policy attention toward the importance of early childhood. Future phases may include follow‑up impact studies, regional road‑shows and partnerships with other higher‑education institutions and international bodies.
Also Read | Hightown Star Monica Raymund Ethnicity: Ex-Husband Neil Patrick Stewart Facts
