21 May 2024 , 13:15
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The Princess of Wales is still undergoing treatment for cancer, and will remain away from public duties for the time being as she focuses on her recovery and her young family - but that hasn't stopped one of her major projects from launching it's next phase.
Kate is known to be a seriously hands-on parent, who has always made her responsibilities towards her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis her top priority.
Her dedication as a parent has also informed the philanthropic work she has chosen to make the main focus of her royal life: early years development. Kate's long been passionate about investment into the early years of childhood, not only for the individual children's wellbeing but also the overall health of society. Children who are properly cared for in their earliest years then become adults with healthy coping mechanisms and resilience, and Kate's Royal Foundation Business Taskforce has identified a "£45.5 billion opportunity for the UK economy."
A new report released by the Taskforce claims that there is a "huge scale of opportunity for business to drive, and benefit from, prioritising early childhood the workplace, community and wider society" and the Royal Foundation has already managed to secure some impressive commitments from businesses that will create initiatives that help support young children.
Kate's passion for early years development has been deemed her "life's work" by palace aides, and last year when she launched the Business Taskforce she brought together representatives from across the private sector and encouraged them to "think a little more radically" about how they could contribute to securing the wellbeing of the under-fives. Kate might not be returning to work just yet as she focuses on her recovery, but she is reported to be "excited" by the next phase of this crucial project launching.
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Kate took to the lectern to deliver a speech to business leaders in 2023 (Getty Images)The Princess of Wales is a parent first and foremost, and she's never been afraid of opening up about her experiences with her three children, often making candid admissions as she chats with members of the public during official engagements. Kate doesn't just stick to the cute stories about her kids, however - she isn't shy about opening up about the aspects of parenting she has found challenging in a seriously relatable way. The Mirror looks back at some of her candid confessions about motherhood and some of them are things that a lot of parents may well have experienced too.
Figuring it out as she goes along
In Omid Scobie's bombshell book Endgame, which was released in 2023, the royal author claimed that Kate confided in him back in 2015 that she felt like she was improvising a lot during her parenting journey, and that she compared herself to other parents around her.
"I look at my friends and think they have it all figured it out... while I’m just making it up as I go along," the author quoted her as saying.
Protecting her kids amid health crisis
When Kate announced to the nation that she had been diagnosed with cancer and needed time and space to focus on her recovery, there was one moment in the moving video message where emotion nearly overtook her: when she mentioned her three children.
Seeming to fight back tears, Kate said her news had been, "a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.
Kate announced her health challenges in an emotional video (PA)"As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok."
Any parent who has dealt with health challenges within their family will likely know the pain of trying reassure their children, and Kate's relatable prioritisation of her children even extended to the timing of the announcement - which lined up with when the Wales children were going on their school holidays, shielding them from the worst of the scrutiny.
Pancake fail
In 2023, Kate visited a nursing home to celebrate Shrove Tuesday with the residents, and whilst she was there she turned her hand to making some pancakes - with some less-than-perfect results. Kate didn't quite manage to successfully flip her pancake - a struggle many people know all too well.
Kate warned the head chef who was helping her that the pancake wasn't likely to end up well, joking "I always seem to get my pancakes stuck either in the pan or the ceiling or the floor." She added: "Maybe the children won't want to do pancakes… 'Mummy we’ve seen you do it – no way'."
While Kate's talked on other occasions about how much she enjoys cooking - and how she's far more likely to whip up dinner than her husband Prince William - it seems like pancake making isn't her strongest suit in the kitchen.
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Knitting mishaps
When Kate was pregnant with her eldest child Prince George, she tried her hand at a new hobby: knitting. However, she didn't have much success with it. She admitted as such during a visit to Bradford in 2020, "I tried knitting when I first had George. I tried to knit him a very special jumper, but I got halfway down and it splattered. It's such an amazing skill," she explained to a group of grandparents who were showing her their enviable crochet creations.
Kate may be the "arty one" according to her husband, but despite her creative skills, it doesn't sound like she will be adding knitting to her repertoire anytime soon.
Hair styling struggles
Kate has the dubious honour of trying to get three children ready for school every day, and not just that, but also getting them picture-perfect for any official royal events that the youngsters join their parents for.
The three Wales children never have a hair out of place when they are seen in public, and while Kate is lucky to have had a nanny over the years, she has admitted that when it comes to getting Princess Charlotte's hair into plaits - she has a few struggles.
Kate admitted she struggles with Charlotte's hair (PA)Back in 2019, Kate visited Cumbria where she was given a lovely bouquet of flowers by a young girl who was wearing her hair in very smart plaits. Kate admitted to the child that she was seriously envious of how neat they look, and that she struggles to do the same for her own daughter, "I love your plaits. They are so pretty. Who's done those, who's done your plaits?" Kate asked, before admitting, "I tried to do a plait with Charlotte this morning, it didn't really work very well."
However, a problem shared is a problem healed, and William has also admitted that styling Charlotte's hair isn't his strength during a visit to Blackpool in 2019.
Lockdown exhaustion
During the pandemic, parents across the world were suddenly tasked with new roles as they struggled to balance their children's care and schooling with their own work responsibilities. Even members of the Royal Family weren't exempt from this tricky balancing act, and Kate admitted during a virtual engagement that having to oversee her children's online schooling left her simply "exhausted".
Kate admitted she found lockdown schooling "exhausting" (PA)"I think as parents you've the day-to-day elements of being a parent, but I suppose during lockdown we have had to take on additional roles that perhaps others in our communities, or in our lives would have perhaps supported us and helped us with.
"We've had to become a teacher - and I think, personally, I feel pulled in so many different directions and you try your best with everything but at the end of the day I do feel exhausted."
Louis energy levels
Prince Louis has become a firm favourite amongst royal fans, with the adorable little boy never afraid of displaying his big personality. From pulling faces on the Buckingham Palace balcony to getting overexcited at the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Prince Louis was very excited during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)However, the excitable youngster keeps his parents on their toes with his high energy levels. Back in 2021, Kate had a phone with youngster Mila Sneddon, who was suffering from Leukaemia, during which she admitted that even when Louis was only three, she struggled to keep up, particularly when he used one of his favourite toys. "Louis has got so big now. He's very quick running around and he's on his little scooter as well," Kate explained. "He's very quick. I can't keep up with him".
Mum guilt
If there is one thing that mothers across the country know all too well, it's the guilt that comes along with the job. Parents are constantly being pulled in so many different directions, and despite the privileged position Kate is in, she is no exception to this feeling.
Appearing on the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Kate admitted that she struggles with mum guilt "all the time". "Yes absolutely," she explained when host Giovanna Fletcher asked her about the topic, "and anyone who doesn't as a mother is actually lying.
Kate admitted she struggles with 'mum guilt' (PA)"Even this morning, coming to the nursery visit here - George and Charlotte were like 'Mummy how could you possibly not be dropping us off at school this morning?'
"It's a constant challenge - you hear it time after time from mums, even mums who aren't necessarily working and aren't pulled in the directions of having to juggle work life and family life."
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