Kate Middleton shouted at by prisoners with urgent demands as she meets inmates

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 surprised inmates with a visit to one of the largest women’s prisons in the UK – and was shouted out with prisoner demands.

Kate, 43, continued her measured return to public duties by touring HMP Styal near Wilmslow in Cheshire, a closed-category prison for adult female and young offenders over the ages of 18. Inmates are serving sentences for everything from robbery and drug offences to the most serious, such as murder.

She was there as patron of Action for Children, visiting HMP Styal’s Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) to highlight how important “strong, loving and consistent” relationships are to a child’s development, even in the most challenging of environments.

Action for Children runs three MBUs inside prisons in the north of England, providing a safe and dedicated space for new and expectant mothers serving a sentence or on remand.

Wearing a brown checked full-length coat over a knitted brown skirt and polo-neck and suede boots, the princess was escorted in through the main gate by prison governor Nicky Hargreaves. Carrying an umbrella, she laughed as she had to bend down and manoeuvre her umbrella as the two women tried to squeeze through the gate at the same time.

As she walked through the prison grounds dozens of women inmates leant out of the windows of their notable worn around the edges accommodation blocks to catch a glimpse of the royal visitor. There was a loud wolf whistle and cat-calls, but also some shouts of: “We need more funding. Tell them the truth!” The Princess smiled, waved and said hello to other inmates who were leaning through the windows of a portacabin cabin.

Pregnant women and mothers live in a separate area of the building and are supported to care for their babies by trained prison staff and early years experts, who even ensure that babies are exposed to regular experiences such as going on walks, shopping and travelling on a bus. They also help to organise overnight stays with other family members to establish strong bonds with a wider network.

Ultimately, MBU’s aim is to help establish and maintain a strong bond between mother and child, particularly in the crucial few months of their lives. The hope is that the units will also help break the cycle of re-offending, which for female offenders in England and Wales sits at a rate of 22.3 per cent.

During her visit, the princess met staff and former residents to hear about the high-quality nursery provision the prison provides, as well as targeted intervention and parenting support for inmate mothers. She also visited its on-site nursery to see where babies and children living on-site can learn and play. And she chatted to a group of current inmates on the MBU to hear about how Action for Children has been helping them.

One of them was called Sam, who left the prison six weeks ago with her toddler son after serving a 14-month sentence for an undisclosed offence and another Donna, who was 30 weeks pregnant when she began an 11-month sentence and gave birth to a daughter in prison.

Sam told Kate how it was only by being sent to prison that she received “so much” help, something that was unlikely to have been available in her local community. The future queen replied: “It shouldn’t have to take something like this to get access to something like this…”

Sam said: “I only left six weeks ago and I am just getting rolling with everything again. Thinking about work, nurseries. I have said so many times that I just wish I could take this (prison) nursery and put it in my home town.” She added: “It’s hands down the best nursery. My son just ran up to the nursery worker straight away and recognised her just now.”

HMP Styal currently has around 400 female prisoners with capacity for 454. An investigation last year by the BBC saw previous inmates describe it as ‘hell on Earth’ and ‘no place for a vulnerable woman.’

There have been at least 11 suicides at HMP Styal in Cheshire since 2007 – more than any other women’s jail in England. Current inmates include child killer Savannah Brockhill, jailed in 2021 for the brutal murder of toddler Star Hobson, and Farzana Ahmed, who murdered her 17-year-old daughter, Shafilea, who had refused an arranged marriage.

In 2020 a prisoner gave birth to a stillborn baby in the toilet of a cell, with The Prisons and Probations Ombudsman later finding there were “missed opportunities” to identify her urgent clinical needs.

Today is the Princess’ fourth visit to a prison, having previously spent time at HMP High Down in 2023 and HMP Send in 2020 and 2015. She also engaged with mothers in the justice system when she opened Hope Street in Southampton in 2023, a pioneering new family-friendly residential community for female offenders.

The princess is committed to raising awareness of the critical importance of early childhood and how what happens to youngsters between the ages of birth to five can have a life-long effect on their physical and mental health.

In 2021 she established The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which works to increase awareness of and action on the issue. Action for Children protects and supports vulnerable children and young people by providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives.