Kate, 42, has yet to return to her public role four months after undergoing hospital surgery and later revealing she is undergoing preventative treatment for cancer.
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But she has read a 60-page report on her early years project and said to have been “kept up-to-date” with the work which is published today.
The mum-of-three launched The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood in March last year.
In a speech at Natwest HQ she said it was time to think ‘radically’ in order to create a workforce that is ‘resilient, flexible and able to work through differences with each other’ and added ‘the healthy development of our children relies on healthy adults’.
The report published today (Tue) suggests investing in early years could generate at least £45.5bn into the national economy each year – the equivalent of 25 per cent of government annual spending on the NHS.
Eight major firms – including Iceland, Ikea, Lego and Natwest – have signed up to follow the report’s findings.
The Princess of Wales is said to be keen to see “momentum grow in the coming months and years” as the project she created “is rolling on as she recovers.”
A spokesman for the Princess of Wales said: “This should not be seen as the Princess of Wales returning to work.
“The work of the prince and princess’s projects are always on. That is no different at The Centre for Early Childhood Over the past five months there has been a huge deal of progress.
“However, early childhood is a huge priority for the Princess of Wales.
“She has been kept fully up to date throughout the process and the development of the task force’s work and she has seen the report.”
Kate set up the task force last year and left it in the hands of businesses to develop the report for the Royal Foundation.
Although Kate is not meddling in government policy, it is understood the centre has shown the report and findings to 10 Downing Street and departments of Health and Education.
Christian Guy, executive director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, said: “I know, having briefed the princess on this, that she is enormously grateful to the members of taskforce who have made such fantastic progress on this work over the last yea.
“She feels passionately about the transformational impact of getting this right, together with business both for current and generation and many more to come.
“And I know she is keen to encourage all businesses, no matter what their size of purpose, to join us on the journey.
“She is looking forward to seeing momentum grow in the coming months and years ahead.”
Christian added: “She’s excited by it, to have eight of the most significant businesses in Britain come forward to make the case to their fellow business leaders is vital and exciting for her and priority going forward for our centre and her work.
“When she launched it, she really challenged businesses to go beyond the usual thinking.
“That’s why these five areas are set out including social and emotional skills.
“We often hear businesses talk about why they are so important, but we do wait a long time before we focus on them in our system.
“The science shows us they are crucial in early years so she is very excited about that in particular.
“Businesses are saying we want to get involved, invest and shape the future workforce now.”
Kate set up the centre to encourage businesses to prioritise early years and produce a bridge between science and UK businesses.
Proposals announced today include changing business culture to prioritise early childhood, help families access basic support, offer parents greater support and flexibility at work, strengthen social and emotional skills, and support initiatives that increase access to care.