Kate Middleton, 37, spoke candidly about the pressures of being a parent this week, as she told a group of volunteers at Family Action how she too has experienced the struggles of being a mum. Catherine and husband Prince William, 36, are parents to Prince George, five, Princess Charlotte, three, and Prince Louis, nine months. But the mum of three has still found parenting hard at times, despite being a member of the Royal Family with a nanny on hand. Speaking about the lack of support new mums sometimes receive, Kate revealed the age of which she found parenting her little ones hardest.
The Duchess of Cambridge told volunteers: “Everybody experiences the same struggle. It’s so hard. You get a lot of support with the baby as a mother particularly in the early days but after the age of one it falls away.”
The future Queen consort also revealed the method she turned to when advice and support wasn’t on hand.
Kate said she and William would often turn to parenting books.
She added: “After that there isn’t a huge amount – lots of books to read.”
The Duke and Duchess have the help of their nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, who lives with the family at the palace.
Prince Louis will turn one in April, but that doesn’t mean Kate hasn’t experienced the “overwhelming experience” of becoming a mother.
In 2017 during a speech, Kate said: “Even for me, who has support at home that most mothers do not. Nothing can really prepare you for the sheer, overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother.
“For many mothers, myself included, this can at times lead to a lack of confidence and feelings of ignorance.”
Meanwhile, sister-in-law Meghan Markle, 37, will soon welcome her first child with husband Prince Harry, 34.
The couple may be hoping for words of advice from their in-laws, as they are set to welcome their first child together in spring.
Amid rumours of a rift between the sisters-in-law, the new royal baby is likely to bring the women closer.
Royal journalist and author Katie Nicholl said during Channel 5’s Kate v Meghan: Princesses At War the Duchesses are likely to bond over motherhood.
Katie explained: “Meghan having a baby will change the dynamic. They’ll both become mums and that changes everything.
“Screaming baby at two in the morning – who would you ask? You’d ask your sister-in-law who’d been exactly the same with many years of experience.”
Meanwhile, royal commentator Victoria Arbiter added the news of the royal addition will help the family move on from the ongoing feud reports.
Victoria said: “They’re going to be working together for many years to come, so everyone will get over themselves, they’ll move on and everyone will be excited by the new baby in the spring.”