The Princess of Wales visited Anna Freud for launch of project supporting early social and emotional development

Today, Thursday 27th November 2025, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales met families who are helping to shape the development of a new project from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, in partnership with Anna Freud, to enhance the knowledge and skills of health visitors and those who work alongside them to support early social and emotional development. 

The Centre has commissioned Anna Freud to create a workforce development programme, working with The Institute of Health Visiting, to ensure more babies and young children develop the social and emotional foundations they need for a happy, healthy life. The programme will be informed by the Centre’s Shaping Us Framework and grounded in evidence, practitioner insights, and the experiences of parents.

Anna Freud will design training to support health visitors and other early years workers whose role in supporting relationships between parents and their babies and young children is vital, yet often goes unseen.

During the visit, The Princess met parents and carers helping to shape the project and spoke with the charity’s Chief Executive, Professor Eamon McCrory, about how Anna Freud is transforming mental health care for babies, children, and young people through science, collaboration, and clinical innovation.

The visit came a week after The Princess’ speech at the Future Workforce Summit, where she highlighted the importance of consistent, nurturing relationships to create the grounded and meaningful environments a child needs to thrive.