Princess of Wales visits UEL to launch early years resource
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Published
06 May 2026
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On a landmark occasion for the University of East London, HRH The Princess of Wales visited the Stratford Health Campus today to launch a new educational guide for people working with babies, young children and their families.
Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development, developed by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood (established by The Princess of Wales) has been designed to strengthen understanding across the early years sector of why social and emotional development matters so profoundly – and how these skills begin to take shape from the very earliest months of life.
In the foreword to the Guide, The Princess writes:
While our society often focuses on academic or physical milestones, research consistently shows that it is our earliest relationships, experiences and environments which lay the foundations for our future health and happiness. The quality of our connections – with ourselves, with others and with the world around us – shapes how safe we feel, how we relate, and how we process experiences throughout our lives.”
On arrival at the University, Her Royal Highness was received by Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice-Chancellor and President of UEL, and Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The Princess was given a tour of UEL’s Institute for the Science of Early Years and Youth (ISEY), where she met families to discuss the vital role of trusted professional networks in providing consistent early years advice.
UEL’s ISEY uses pioneering wearables and brain-recording techniques to study how diverse environments and relationships influence stress levels in both infants and their caregivers. Professor Sam Wass, Director of ISEY, explained how this cutting-edge technology is being used to decode the vital bond between parent and child.
The tour began with a demonstration of wearable sensors that track a child’s heart rate and stress levels alongside their physical movements. Unlike traditional observation, this data allows the UEL team to see how stress builds in real-time – an insight crucial for identifying where families might need extra support to build resilient relationships.
The visit then moved to an experiment on the “give and take” of social interaction. Using a video relay to compare real-time responses with a deliberate delay, researchers demonstrated how quickly a baby notices when a caregiver is out of sync with their cues. This provides a rare, objective look at how infants learn to anticipate social responses, offering vital insight into how early bonds form and how they can be protected if those natural processes are disrupted.
The tour concluded in an immersive 360-degree lab. Her Royal Highness viewed simulations designed to test the impact of surroundings on a child's wellbeing. By placing children in digitally recreated settings – ranging from quiet green spaces to hectic urban streets – researchers can measure exactly how factors like noise and complexity affect a child’s ability to focus and stay calm.
Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice-Chancellor and President of UEL, said:
We are truly honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales to the University of East London. Her Royal Highness’s longstanding commitment to understanding the importance of the early years aligns closely with the pioneering research being undertaken by our academic community and we are proud to host the launch of the new Guide by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
“At UEL, we are advancing understanding of how infants’ early environments and relationships affect stress in both children and their caregivers, and what this means for lifelong health and development.
“With increasing recognition of the profound impact of early childhood on individuals and society, it is more important than ever that robust, evidence-based insights inform practice and policy. Our research is translated into real-world impact through consultancy, training, and policy advice that support professionals, families, and communities.
“We are proud to be contributing to an area that Her Royal Highness has championed so passionately, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase how UEL is advancing knowledge and supporting better outcomes for children and their caregivers across the UK and beyond.”
The visit also provided an opportunity for The Princess of Wales to speak with the next generation of early years practitioners. Meeting with UEL students, she heard firsthand how the Centre for Early Childhood’s resources are shaping their training.
This spirit of collaboration was echoed in the day's final event: a meeting with Vice Chancellors and Further Education leaders from across the UK who are committed to ensuring the next generation of early years professionals is equipped with a deep, evidence-based understanding of social and emotional development.
