Kate Middleton visited a women's prison to highlight the importance of strong mother and baby relationships to a child’s development, even in the most challenging of environments.

The Princess of Wales visited a women's prison in Cheshire to meet inmates and their babies and highlight the importance of mother and baby relationships

The Princess of Wales continued her gradual return to public duties by visting HMP Styal in Cheshire - one of the largest women's prisons in the UK

The Princess of Wales paid a visit to a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) inside HMP Styal on Tuesday afternoon. Her appearance came just a day after it was confirmed that Prince William and Kate would not be attending this year's star-studded BAFTAs ceremony in London.

The visit was intended “to highlight the importance of strong, loving and consistent mother and baby relationships to a child’s development, even in the most challenging of environments.”

The Princess of Wales stressed the importance of mothers wellbeing as she met inmates at a mother and baby unit in Cheshire. Kate visited the unit, which is one of three in the North of England providing inmates with support from trained staff and early years practitioners in a separate living area.