Being a busy mother-of-two can be difficult, even for royalty. During her first public engagement of the new year, the Duchess of Cambridge opened up about parenting when she spoke to a group of mothers at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families in London on Wednesday morning, Hello! magazine reports. This was her first event after celebrating her birthday in the country earlier this week.
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Kate, who was dressed in a coat dress by London-based brand Eponine, met with parents who have received support from the centre with issues like abuse and addiction. While learning about how the organization has helped those with young children, she admitted, “Parenting is tough.”
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The Duchess went on to praise the mothers and said, “With the history and all the things and the experiences you’ve all witnessed, to do that on top of your own anxieties, and the lack of support you also received as mothers… I find it extraordinary how you’ve managed actually. So really well done.”
With three-year-old Prince George and one-year-old Princess Charlotte at home, Kate is well-practiced at entertaining toddlers. When asked if she was prepared to spend the morning with a group of children under the age of five, she responded, “I did just leave a room of six under threes.”
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Kate’s visit also highlighted her work to raise awareness of child mental health issues and the importance of early intervention. A video posted by Kensington Palace showed her joining in a “theraplay session,” which explores the relationship between parent and child.
The Duchess of Cambridge joins a @AFNCCF 'theraplay' session, which promotes the attachment relationship between parents and children pic.twitter.com/Aa6aWurxeW
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) January 11, 2017
As patron of the charity, this was Kate’s second visit to the centre and according to the organization’s chief executive, the royal’s support makes a real difference.
“We are very happy that Her Royal Highness is meeting parents from two of our flagship early intervention services,” Peter Fonagy said in a statement. “Her visit is an inspiration to the staff and reinforces the commitment of the families to work to increase their babies’ chances of a resilient future.”
Kate’s first day back in the public eye continued with a visit to a Child Bereavement UK center in East London. She was joined by Prince William to celebrate the charity’s one-year anniversary.
From: Harper’s BAZAAR US