The Duchess of Cambridge has commended midwives across the nation in a heartfelt open letter praising their "amazing" work.
Kate described their work as of “fundamental importance” to the early years development of children – an issue she has been raising awareness about for a number of years.
Alongside the message, she also revealed she took part in home visits with midwives during two days spent shadowing staff at Kingston Hospital’s maternity unit in London in November.
Four pictures show her time with workers and in one image Kate is pictured crouching over a baby in a cot as the infant’s parents watch, while in others she is seen meeting staff.
In the letter, published ahead of the start of 2020 designated Year of the Nurse and Midwife, Kate said: "The help and reassurance you provide for parents-to-be and parents of newborns is just as crucial. It goes a long way in building parents’ confidence from the start, with lifelong impact on the future happiness of their children.
“The early years are more critical for future health and happiness than any other moment in our lifetime. Even before we are born, our mother’s emotional and physical health directly influences our development and by the age of five a child’s brain has developed to 90% of its adult size.
“Your role at the very start of this period is therefore of fundamental importance.”
With three children under the age of seven – Prince George, aged six, Princess Charlotte, aged four, and Prince Louis who is 20-months-old – Kate is focused on working to improve the early years support for children and their parents.
She has established a steering group of experts, which first met in May 2018, to look at the issue.
They have been considering how the duchess and her Royal Foundation can help improve outcomes for youngsters.
The experts have been looking at preparations for parenthood, pregnancy, and a child’s early years and Kate is likely to build on their work next year.
In a direct message to midwives, she added: “You are there for women at their most vulnerable; you witness strength, pain and unimaginable joy on a daily basis. Your work often goes on behind the scenes, and away from the spotlight.
“Recently however, I was privileged enough to witness a small section of it first hand, spending several days at Kingston Hospital’s maternity unit.
“Although this was not my first encounter with the care and kindness provided by midwives across the country, it gave me a broader insight into the true impact you have on everybody you help.”
The Princess Royal has also been supporting members of the medical profession for many years and is involved with a number of professional bodies, acting as patron of the College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, England’s Chief Midwifery Officer, who helped deliver Kate’s children, said: “Around 650,000 babies were born this year with our fantastic NHS midwives on hand to provide care to women and their families.
“It is a huge honour for the Duchess to recognise the importance of our profession and, as we look ahead to 2020, her support will no doubt be a massive boost for all those working in maternity services as we celebrate the year of the nurse and the midwife.”
