The Princess was in familiar pieces for an engagement today at the University of East London. 
Rebecca English of The Daily Mail shared a video of the Princess arriving.
The Princess of Wales has arrived at the University of East London @Earlychildhood pic.twitter.com/wGzEzXKX6c
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) May 6, 2026
She was at the University’s Stratford Health Campus to mark the launch of Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development from the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The guide “highlights the vital role of loving, responsive relationships in shaping children’s lifelong health and wellbeing,” per a Kensington Palace news release.
Today the Princess met children, parents, and students training in the early childhood field. 
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.”
Cameron Walker of GB News posted a video of the Princess discussing the new guide.
NEW: The Princess of Wales says she wants her new @Earlychildhood ‘Foundations for Life’ guide to “make things easier” for young families to support young children’s social and emotional development. pic.twitter.com/om6XF4wS7J
— Cameron Walker (@CameronDLWalker) May 6, 2026
The Princess toured the University’s Institute for the Science of Early Years and Youth. 
The Institute conducts “…pioneering research in the field, using wearable sensors and immersive labs to decode the vital bond between caregivers and children.” The sensors track a child’s heart rate and stress levels, along with their physical movements.
We learn more from The Telegraph’s piece by Victoria Ward.
She spent time with children wearing monitors and stress sensors in various situations, such as when playing and breaking off contact with a parent, allowing their reactions to be observed in different environments.
In these images, you see her with three-year-old Mikail and his mother, Safia. We learn details from The Evening Standard’s story.
She was introduced to three-year-old Mikail and his mother Safia in the “magic box” room at the university, where parents and children can interact through a screen and use brain recording techniques to track how a baby’s living environment influences early stress.
Back to The Evening Standard’s coverage.
After the activity, the princess asked Mikail: “Well done you! Was that fun? Did you enjoy doing that?”
When Mikail, who was wearing a yellow cap with sensors for the experiment, said he wanted to remove it, the princess asked him: “You want to take it off? Is it sticky? Is it itchy?”
Mikhail told her: “It’s hurting”, before smiling and saying: “It’s tickling me.”
In this photo, Mikail shows the Princess stickers on his hand that he was playing with. 
The Princess also spent time in the “Imaginarium,” an immersive space that simulates calm and chaotic environments demonstrating how noise and visual stimulation affect children’s stress levels.
In a story on its website about today’s engagement, the University notes, “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.”
While on campus, the Princess also spoke with students she bumped into. 
More from Rebecca English’s Daily Mail article.
Walking to a reception across the campus to she stopped to chat to two astonished students who got wind of her visit.
Janna, 28, a medical science student said afterwards: ‘She was asking what course I did and whether I liked it here. And she asked me if my exams had finished and said I must have been relieved.’
Nicole, 21, another medical student who was squealing with excitement afterwards added: ‘She was so pleasant and so interested. I could tell she had a good heart.’
Now for our look at what Kate wore for today’s engagement. 
Many will have recognized the Roland Mouret Stretch Cady Blazer (now sold out) and matching trousers, both in a custom sand or tan color. Below, I show the pieces in maroon, styled with slanted flap pockets on the single-breasted jacket, and trousers featuring a side zipper and vertical pockets.
The pieces were first worn in September 2023 for an engagement in London, again in October 2025 for an audience with Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein, and then again today. 
Middleton Maven suggests the Princess wore Roland Mouret’s Silk Satin Bodysuit ($750), and I think she may be correct. Made in 100% silk, the bodysuit has a cinched waist, functional cuffs, and shoulder pads. 
The Princess repeated her Ralph Lauren Celia Pumps ($750) in calfskin with a 4″ heel.
And her Daniella Draper Gold Fixed Alphabet Necklace featuring the initials of her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. 
The Princess debuted a new pair of earrings by Daniella Draper, the Gold Trio Diamond Midnight Keeper’s Heart Earring Charms ($1700), with three diamonds, no doubt referencing her three children. Thank you to Irish Sara for today’s speedy earring identification. 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In related news, the Princess is heading to Italy next Wednesday and Thursday on her first overseas trip since finishing her cancer treatment. We learn more from The Telegraph’s story.
She will fly to Reggio Emilia in northern Italy for a two-day research trip with her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
It will be her first multi-day foreign trip in nearly three and a half years and is considered a significant milestone in her recovery as well as a show of support for the region’s approach to raising children.
And from NBC’s coverage.
The visit will center on the “Reggio Emilia approach,” which places relationships, the environment and community at the heart of a child’s development and has influenced schools around the world.
“The princess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week and seeing first-hand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together to support children’s development,” a Kensington Palace spokesperson said.
This story from the UK Press Association offers additional details.
Aides to the princess… said the visit was an important moment in the expansion of the Centre for Early Childhood’s work on a global stage.
Kate last carried out an official overseas visit in December 2022 when she went to Boston, USA, with the Prince of Wales for his Earthshot Prize award ceremony.
She also undertook two brief trips to Marseille, France, for the Rugby World Cup in the autumn of 2023, and went to the Crown Prince of Jordan’s wedding in Amman in June 2023 but these were not considered by her royal household to be official foreign tours.
VIDEOS:
The Royal Family Channel provides more than 8 minutes of coverage in this video.
ElizaMo
Monday 11th of May 2026
The Princess is clearly absorbed in the sophistication of these university researches into early childhood and her enthusiasm is clear in her engagement. It’s fun too that she should also connect so naturally with other students at the east London learning centre.
Unfortunately, Catherine’s enthusiasm seems to stop short of appearing in an outfit that could give real pleasure, perhaps at odds with any fun-loving youngsters. I liked the Roland Mouret in burgundy well enough, but have not warmed to the tan version of the pantsuit, especially not teamed with white layering, which washes out both the suit and the wearer. The Mouret Silk Satin Bodysuit is a nice piece in itself with pretty rounded collar and placket covered buttons, which only add to the general blandness.
The tailoring of the pantsuit bears a second look with its accommodating cut, distinctive slant pockets on the Stretch Cady Jacket, plus long slim lapels. The practicality of the suit can’t be faulted when we see the ease with which the Princess is able to sit cross-legged on the floor. The wicked heels of the Ralph Lauren Celia Pumps seem a little out of place for meeting young children, though the contrast colour with the pants is welcome. Alas, the brightest thing Catherine wears is her smile.
I find sentimental jewellery disappointing, with the Fixed Alphabet necklace coming out yet again and cutesy heart pendants with baby diamonds for her earrings, these are things I couldn’t choose for myself., though they blend well enough with what’s being worn. I’m afraid I do not look forward to what she wears in Italy, though I will be very interested in the Italian connection to her early years project.
Ava Pittman
Sunday 10th of May 2026
The pantsuit is a miss for me. Its bland, dull and uninteresting. A brooch or colorful scarf, something. Maybe a colored blouse possibly. Regardless of my tastes the Princess does look lovely.
Zell
Friday 8th of May 2026
I'm starting to feel a bit guilty for always criticizing this suit, but I just find it so boring, staid and even tedious, mainly for the dull, tepid pale beige color of the suit.
Catherine still looks beautiful, of course, but why oh why can't she try wearing a suit of light, bright seafoam green? Or how about a suit of pretty, periwinkle blue?
I see no reason why Catherine's go-to suit must be in such an insipid beige color when a sunny yellow suit would be fabulous.
I would love almost any other color than bland beige.
It's not even flattering, as the beige washes out Catherine. Still, she truly does look lovely, but, despite the color, not because of it.
Jane
Friday 8th of May 2026
Wide legged pants are certainly trending and fashion outlets certainly have many on offer. Beige is also featuring strongly across all seasons which seems to disappoint many writers when Catherine wears it. The bodysuit looks lovely, simple and elegant staying in place when moving around. Something we should all have in our wardrobe. What will Kate wear in Italy, I am sure she wont disappoint, well most of us anyway. The new Mara range is stunning with beige included.
Mia Gottlieb
Friday 8th of May 2026
Oh, these trousers. I hold my breath hoping she doesn’t trip when I watch the videos. And, echoing others, this drab color is so blah! Diana always wore bright colors, especially when interacting with children, and I really loved her for that. I try to be understanding of Catherine’s choices but today it was hard.