BORDON, Hampshire — Catherine, Princess of Wales, made a solo visit to Chase Community Hospital on Wednesday, November 11, to see how health visitors are using an observational tool designed to identify early signs of social withdrawal in babies and help families access support.
The engagement came hours after a new interview in Country Life, guest-edited by Prince William, in which the princess reflected on the role nature played during her recovery from cancer. Her appearance brought together two causes that have become central to her public work: early childhood development and a more holistic understanding of health and wellbeing.
Hospital Visit Focuses on Babies’ Social and Emotional Development
At Chase Community Hospital in Bordon, Kate met health visitors, NHS representatives and families who have received additional support through a programme using the Alarm Distress Baby Scale, commonly known as ADBB. She observed how trained practitioners use the approach during routine contacts with families and heard how it can help them recognise when a baby may need closer assessment or further assistance.
The ADBB is an observational tool for babies, generally used during the first two years of life. Practitioners pay attention to behaviours including eye contact, facial expression, vocalisation and activity levels. These observations can help professionals notice sustained patterns of social withdrawal that might otherwise be missed during a routine check.
Importantly, ADBB is not a stand-alone diagnosis. It is intended to support professional observation and decisions about whether a child and family may benefit from further assessment, guidance or referral. The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ guidance describes the scale as an aid to clinical decision-making rather than a diagnostic test.
During the visit, the princess spent time with parents and babies, including six-month-old Enid, whose mother said the programme had helped her better understand her daughter’s cues after a premature birth. The Independent’s report also described Kate sitting with the baby and speaking with families about their experiences.
How Kate’s Early Childhood Initiative Developed
The princess first saw the ADBB approach being used during a visit to Denmark in February 2022. She subsequently asked the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to explore whether the method could be adapted for use in the United Kingdom.
The Centre has worked with the Institute of Health Visiting and researchers at the University of Oxford on pilot projects across 10 NHS sites. Following the evaluation of the second phase, the organisations said the findings supported wider adoption and recommended that the approach be commissioned more broadly. The Centre announced a further investment of £250,000 over three years to support implementation, training resources and a professional community of practice.
In its July 2026 announcement, the Royal Foundation said the proportion of babies identified with concerns rose from 7 per cent to 12 per cent during the evaluation, while referrals to specialist services reduced. The Foundation said the results suggested the approach could help practitioners identify emerging needs earlier and respond proportionately within universal services.
The Institute of Health Visiting’s Phase Two study was conducted with the University of Oxford. Its findings build on earlier feasibility work that explored whether the ADBB and its modified version could be incorporated into routine health-visiting contacts.
Princess Reflects on Cancer Recovery and the Healing Power of Nature
The hospital engagement followed the publication of Kate’s conversation with nature writer Robert Macfarlane in Country Life. In the interview, she discussed how being outdoors helped her reconnect with her mind, body and spirit during a difficult period.
She described nature as a sanctuary because it does not demand performance or impose expectations. The princess also recalled being told in hospital that recovery would not be linear, with better and more difficult days along the way. She compared that process with the natural world, where periods of rest and renewal are part of growth.
Her comments do not suggest that time outdoors replaces medical treatment. Rather, they highlight the emotional and psychological support she personally found in nature and her belief that recovery should be considered beyond physical symptoms alone. In the same conversation, she spoke about the importance of trusted relationships, supportive communities and places where people can feel at peace.
Kate announced in March 2024 that she had been diagnosed with cancer and later confirmed that she had completed chemotherapy. In January 2025, she said her cancer was in remission. She has not publicly disclosed the specific type of cancer, and no further medical details should be assumed.
A Broader Message About Prevention, Parenting and Wellbeing
The visit offered a practical example of how the princess’s early-years work connects research, frontline healthcare and the everyday experiences of parents. Early identification does not mean labelling a baby or assuming that every quiet moment signals a problem. It means giving trained professionals another way to notice persistent patterns, discuss concerns sensitively and help families find appropriate support.
That distinction matters. Babies communicate through facial expressions, movement, sounds and interaction long before they can use words. The peer-reviewed research published in BMJ Paediatrics Open explains that brief periods of looking away or withdrawing can be part of normal infant behaviour, while sustained withdrawal may warrant closer attention. The study examined the feasibility and acceptability of introducing the ADBB and modified ADBB into health-visiting practice in England.
The wider challenge will be ensuring that training, supervision and follow-up support are available wherever the tool is introduced. Screening and observation are only useful when families can access timely, appropriate services after a concern is identified. The next phase of implementation will therefore be important in determining whether the programme can be embedded consistently across different communities and health systems.
For Kate, the hospital visit and her reflections on recovery are linked by an emphasis on relationships, listening and environments that help people feel supported. Her latest engagement reinforces her long-running message that the foundations of wellbeing begin early and that families, health professionals and communities all have a role in helping children thrive.
Further Reading and Resources
- Country Life: The Princess of Wales on nature, hope and recovery
- The Royal Foundation: ADBB evaluation and national rollout plans
- Institute of Health Visiting: ADBB Phase Two study
- University of Oxford: Research findings on early identification and support
- BMJ Paediatrics Open: Peer-reviewed study of ADBB in health-visiting practice
- Royal College of Psychiatrists: Guidance on infant measures, including ADBB
- The Independent: Details from Kate’s hospital visit
- Vogue: Kate’s interview and hospital appearance
Photograph note: The three images in this article are archive photographs, not photographs from the November 11, 2026 hospital engagement. Each is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 licence, with photographer/source credits and links to the original file and licence. The images may be reused under the licence terms; attribution is required.