Kate Middleton wears Karen Millen dress at Royal Surrey County Hospital

The Princess of Wales looked stunning in yellow today as she visited an award-winning maternity unit at a hospital in Surrey in her first solo royal public engagement since assuming her new title.

Mother-of-three Kate, 40, looked radiant in the mustard £220 Karen Millen dress as she cradled a newborn baby at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, where she has learnt more about the support it provides to pregnant women and new mothers.

The Princess’s maternal instincts were on display as she sat holding the newborn baby girl, Bianca, while supporting her head, and wore a facemask to prevent any risk of spreading Covid to the infant. 

She also spoke with Bianca’s mother, Sylvia Novak, about the care she had received from staff at the maternity unit. 

Her Royal Highness accessorised the bright yellow dress, which had echoes of summer, with contrasting navy suede court stilettos and a navy clutch bag.

Her brunette locks, worn in curls and tucked behind one ear, bounced in the breeze as she strolled up to the entrance of the hospital. She was also spotted wearing a face mask inside the hospital corridors, in line with covid regulations.

The Princess wore simple and understated silver hoops with a teardrop and opted for just a touch of make-up with a neutral lip shade and minimal eyeshadow. 

Her Royal Highness supported the baby’s head as she spoke to her mother, Sylvia Novak, who had recently given birth to her baby daughter in the unit 

Masked up! The Princess of Wales stuck to Covid regulations at the maternity unit of the Royal Surrey County Hospital this afternoon on her official visit

The Princess of Wales, 40, looked radiant in a mustard £220 Karen Millen dress an as she arrived at the maternity unit in Surrey this afternoon

The maternity unit, which cares for around 3,000 babies every year, received a UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Gold Award in May for its outstanding work supporting infant-feeding and parent-infant relationships. 

The unit’s ethos is that high-quality maternity and early years care can improve long-term health of the population – a belief the Princess of Wales champions in her work with the Centre for Early Childhood.

This is a solo trip for Her Royal Highness as her husband Prince William carries out his own duties today – meeting young footballers at a training session at St George’s Park. 

Kate and Prince William were made Prince and Princess of Wales by King Charles III on September 9, a title reserved for the heir apparent of the monarch. 

Kate looked relaxed and at ease as she laughed on her departure from the hospital at the end of the public engagement, which was her first since becoming Princess of Wales

Once it was safe to whip off her face mask, The Princess beamed for the cameras upon her departure from the maternity unit, where she had visited staff and mothers 

The Princess carried a posy of flowers which included eucalyptus and roses, and had been tied together with a rustic straw fastening

The Princess displayed her subtle £795 Emily Mortimer Hera White Gold and Diamond Pear Detachable Drops as she tucked her hair behind her ear

The Princess of Wales clutched her face mask in her hand as she also held a posy of flowers given to herby a well-wisher at the hospital

The Princess put her arm around a well-wisher who has lined up to meet her during the visit outside the Royal Surrey County Hospital

The young girl coyly smiled at the Princess as she reached out to put her hand on the well-wisher’s arm, while still wearing her covid face mask and carrying flowers

Her Royal Highness looked peaceful and utterly at ease as she cradled tiny newborn baby girl Bianca in her arms and supported her head

Kate wore a Covid-19 facemask as she chatted to Bianca’s mother, who has recently given birth in the maternity unit at the Surrey hospital

Staff lined up along the corridor of the hospital eager to catch a glimpse of the Princess of Wales as she walked through to meet with people running the Jasmine Team

The Princess of Wales walked along the corridor of the hospital’s award-winning maternity unit while wearing a mask in line with Covid regulations, which are still in place in some hospital trusts

The royal mother-of-three could be seen reaching up to adjust her mask as she walked through the corridors of the hospital earlier today 

Harking back to the days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Princess of Wales donned her face mask to prevent the spread of the virus

Her Royal Highness looked professional and regal as ever as she chatted with a member of staff at the hospital in Guildford, which has won an award for its maternity care

Mother-of-three Kate looked deep in conversation early on in her visit to the award-winning maternity unit as she greeted a staff member on arrival

The Princess met staff from the unit’s Jasmine Team, which helps women affected by mental illness during pre and post-natal periods – something that one in five women in the UK are affected by. 

The Princess, who has recently become patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, is said to be passionate about the mental wellbeing of mothers. 

After taking on the role with the charity, the Princess released a video stressing the importance of ensuring good mental health among mothers.

She said: ‘We all know that pregnancy, childbirth and the first months and years of ta child’s live can be hugely demanding. 

‘Parents often feel lonely and overwhelmed by these early years.’ 

She added: ‘No one is immune to experiencing anxiety and depression during this time.’

As she announced her patronage with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, she said she was ‘extremely proud’ to be working with the charity.

Her Royal Highness flashed a smile for the camera as she walked into the unit while carrying her navy blue clutch bag, which contrasted with her bright yellow dress

The mother-of-three wore her brunette locks down in a curled style and brushed behind one ear as she attended the maternity unit

Kate’s dress, belted at the middle, was a bright, summery flash of colour on a dreary autumn day as she arrived at the unit in the Royal Surrey County Hospital

The Princess gave a warm smile to crowds who were ready to greet her at the hospital as she takes on the solo royal visit while her husband William carries out his own duties

The Princess, who has spoken about the importance of preserving the mental wellbeing of mothers in the past, will meet with teams who cater for new mothers 

As patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, the Princess will learn how teams at the hospital are supporting new and expectant mothers 

 The Princess accessorised her bright yellow dress with navy suede court stilettos and a navy clutch bag to contrast her outfit

The Princess made the most of the milder weather as she wore the short-sleeved dress which harked back to the summer on her arrival

Her Royal Highness brought an instant flash of colour as she stepped out of her car in the bright yellow dress from Karen Millen 

An official helped the Princess of Wales out of the car as she arrived at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford where she is visiting the maternity unit

The Princess concluded: ‘It is down to each and every one of us to support parents and carers and all those who are raising children today.’

While speaking with the Jasmine Team, Her Royal Highness learnt about how they team up with local services to support each woman’s individual needs. She will also meet with a mother who has been supported by the team in the past.

The Princess also visited the unit’s Postnatal Bay, which aims to support as many mothers as possible to receive consistent care throughout both pregnancy and childbirth with the same team of midwives.

One of the more sensitive parts of the Princess’s visit was to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), which cares for premature babies and supports their families. She also met with a family whose child was cared for in the unit.

A hospital spokesman said: ‘The SCBU is one of only a few units nationally which has the ability for mothers to remain close to their babies at all times through the provision of around-the-clock cot side sleeping facilities.

‘Staff also encourage parents to take part in the care of their child as much as possible, including bathing, feeding and nappy changing. Evidence demonstrates that the ability for families to develop close and loving relationships at this early stage in their journey is essential for maternal well-being and the long-term physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of their baby.’

At the unit’s postnatal bay, the Princess heard how staff had implemented a pioneering model of care at the hospital by working to ensure that as many mothers as possible received continuity of care during pregnancy and childbirth.

The spokesman added: ‘Being supported by the same team of midwives throughout their journey allows mothers to build positive and trusting relationships with their caregivers, which is particularly important for women from vulnerable backgrounds or with mental health needs.’

Following the visit, the Princess of Wales used her joint Instagram account with her husband to praise the unit.

Posting a photo of herself cradling baby Bianca, she wrote: ‘With a focus on maternal mental health, alongside pioneering overnight facilities, Royal Surrey County Hospital ensures women and their families feel safe, supported and have the best chance of developing those all-important early attachments which are so crucial to ensuring their babies grow and thrive.

‘It was lovely to meet some of the new mothers and their babies who are supported by such a brilliant team at the hospital.’

Last week, Kate made her first appearance since the Queen’s funeral alongside her husband Prince William as they visited Anglesey for a whirlwind visit of the nation.