She might have married a prince and set up home in a palace, but it turns out Kate Middleton suffers the same feelings of inadequacy all of us struggle with occasionally.
Speaking at a charity event on Thursday, the Duchess admitted that she often lacks confidence, particularly when it comes to parenting her two children, Prince George (2) and Princess Charlotte (1).
“Personally, becoming a mother has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience,” she told the audience at the launch of a series of educational films from Best Beginnings. “However, at times it has also been a huge challenge. Even for me who has support at home that most mothers do not.”
The Duchess explained how becoming a mother changed her outlook on life:
“Nothing can really prepare you for the sheer overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother. It is full of complex emotions of joy, exhaustion, love, and worry, all mixed together,”
“Your fundamental identity changes overnight. You go from thinking of yourself as primarily an individual, to suddenly being a mother, first and foremost.”
Kate said, like most mums, she’s not immune to feeling a “lack of confidence” and “feelings of ignorance” as a parent.
She went on to urge parents to look after their mental health: “If any of us caught a fever during pregnancy, we would seek advice and support from a doctor,” she said. “Getting help with our mental health is no different – our children need us to look after ourselves and get the support we need.”
Watch the Duchess deliver her thoughtful speech here:
Watch The Duchess of Cambridge speak at the launch of the @BestBeginnings ‘Out of the Blue’ film series, with @Heads_Together pic.twitter.com/1mMupReocK
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2017
