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The Princess of Wales looked stunning in yellow today as she visited an award-winning maternity unit at a hospital in Surrey in her first solo royal engagement since assuming her new title.
Mother-of-three Kate, 41, looked radiant on arrival in the mustard £220 Karen Millen dress at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, where she will learn more about the support it provides to pregnant women and new mothers.
Her Royal Highness accessorised the bright yellow dress, which had echoes of summer, with contrasting navy suede court stilettos and a navy clutch bag.
Her brunette locks, worn in curls and tucked behind one ear, bounced in the breeze as she strolled up to the entrance of the hospital. She was also spotted wearing a face mask inside the hospital corridors, in line with covid regulations.
The Princess wore simple and understated silver hoops with a teardrop and opted for just a touch of make-up with a neutral lip shade and minimal eyeshadow.
The Princess of Wales, 41, looked radiant in a mustard £220 Karen Millen dress an as she arrived at the maternity unit in Surrey this afternoon
The mother-of-three wore her brunette locks down in a curled style and brushed behind one ear as she attended the maternity unit
Masked up! The Princess of Wales stuck to Covid regulations at the maternity unit of the Royal Surrey County Hospital this afternoon on her official visit
The maternity unit, which cares for around 3,000 babies every year, received a UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Gold Award in May for its outstanding work supporting infant-feeding and parent-infant relationships.
The unit’s ethos is that high-quality maternity and early years care can improve long-term health of the population – a belief the Princess of Wales champions in her work with the Centre for Early Childhood.
This is a solo trip for Her Royal Highness as her husband Prince William carries out his own duties today – meeting young footballers at a training session at St George’s Park.
Kate and Prince William were made Prince and Princess of Wales by King Charles III on September 9, a title reserved for the heir apparent of the monarch.
The Princess of Wales walked along the corridor of the hospital’s award-winning maternity unit while wearing a mask in line with Covid regulations, which are still in place in some hospital trusts
The royal mother-of-three could be seen reaching up to adjust her mask as she walked through the corridors of the hospital earlier today
Harking back to the days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Princess of Wales donned her face mask to prevent the spread of the virus
Her Royal Highness looked professional and regal as ever as she chatted with a member of staff at the hospital in Guildford, which has won an award for its maternity care
Mother-of-three Kate looked deep in conversation early on in her visit to the award-winning maternity unit as she greeted a staff member on arrival
The Princess is due to meet staff from the unit’s Jasmine Team, which helps women affected by mental illness during pre and post-natal periods – something that one in five women in the UK are affected by.
The Princess, who has recently become patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, is said to be passionate about the mental wellbeing of mothers.
After taking on the role with the charity, the Princess released a video stressing the importance of ensuring good mental health among mothers.
She said: ‘We all know that pregnancy, childbirth and the first months and years of ta child’s live can be hugely demanding.
‘Parents often feel lonely and overwhelmed by these early years.’
She added: ‘No one is immune to experiencing anxiety and depression during this time.’
As she announced her patronage with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, she said she was ‘extremely proud’ to be working with the charity.
Her Royal Highness flashed a smile for the camera as she walked into the unit while carrying her navy blue clutch bag, which contrasted with her bright yellow dress
Kate’s dress, belted at the middle, was a bright, summery flash of colour on a dreary autumn day as she arrived at the unit in the Royal Surrey County Hospital
The Princess gave a warm smile to crowds who were ready to greet her at the hospital as she takes on the solo royal visit while her husband William carries out his own duties
The Princess, who has spoken about the importance of preserving the mental wellbeing of mothers in the past, will meet with teams who cater for new mothers
As patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, the Princess will learn how teams at the hospital are supporting new and expectant mothers
The Princess accessorised her bright yellow dress with navy suede court stilettos and a navy clutch bag to contrast her outfit
The Princess made the most of the milder weather as she wore the short-sleeved dress which harked back to the summer on her arrival
Her Royal Highness brought an instant flash of colour as she stepped out of her car in the bright yellow dress from Karen Millen
An official helped the Princess of Wales out of the car as she arrived at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford where she is visiting the maternity unit
The Princess concluded: ‘It is down to each and every one of us to support parents and carers and all those who are raising children today.’
While speaking with the Jasmine Team, Her Royal Highness will learn about how they team up with local services to support each woman’s individual needs. She will also meet with a mother who has been supported by the team in the past.
The Princess will also visit the unit’s Postnatal Bay, which aims to support as many mothers as possible to receive consistent care throughout both pregnancy and childbirth with the same team of midwives.
One of the more sensitive parts of the Princess’s visit will be to the Special Care Baby Unit, which cares for premature babies and supports their families. She will also meet with a family whose child was cared for in the unit.
Last week, Kate made her first appearance since the Queen’s funeral alongside her husband Prince William as they visited Anglesey for a whirlwind visit of the nation.
