The moment was iconic. Kate Middleton, fresh out of the hospital with her firstborn child, Prince George, in her arms, standing on the steps of St. Mary’s Hospital in London alongside her husband, Prince William.
It was a moment of vulnerability as the new mother displayed the heir to the throne for the world to see. It was also a moment of courage and strength. Well, fast forward almost seven years and Middleton has now gotten the chance to reflect on the experience and how it was frightening for her and Prince William.
On Saturday, Middleton sat down with author Giovanna Fletcher for an installment of her ‘Happy Mum, Happy Baby’ podcast. During the session, the Duchess of Cambridge was asked about the experience.
Middleton explained that despite the presence of the media and countless outlets that were waiting outside of the hospital for a first glimpse of the future king, the royal couple still felt that they owed it to everyone for the ongoing support that had received up until that point.
“Both William and I were really conscious that this was something that everyone was excited about and, you know, we’re hugely grateful for the support that the public had shown us,” she said. “For us to be able to share that joy and appreciation with the public, I felt was really important.”
The moment wasn’t just nerve-racking because of all the cameras and media that were there filming her exit from the maternity ward.
It was also scary for the new mother because of the uncertainty that accompanied the inexperienced parents that were set to raise a child, which just made its way into the world. For the couple, they just wanted to get home and begin the new chapter of their lives.
“But equally it was coupled with a newborn baby, and inexperienced parents, and the uncertainty of what that held, so there were all sorts of mixed emotions,” Middleton revealed.
Middleton’s past in a hospital from being sick made being there especially uncomfortable and undoubtedly, another reason the new parents were desperate to get home and off of the hospital campus.
“I was keen to get home because, for me, being in the hospital, I had all the memories of being in the hospital because of being sick, so it wasn’t a place I wanted to hang around in,” she said. “So, I was really desperate to get home and get back to normality.”
In conclusion, the Duchess of Cambridge opened up about the postpartum depression she experienced after having Prince George. At the time, Prince William was working with the Royal Air Force, which required the couple and their young child to be away from their families in London. Middleton shared that it was a very trying time for her as she coped with those feelings.
“It was the first year and I’d just had George [and] William was still working with Search and Rescue,” she said. “We came up here and I had a tiny, tiny baby … It was so isolated, so cut off. I didn’t have any family around and he was doing night shifts.”
And while Middleton’s experience has, no doubt, been different from other mothers, she’s hoping to share the message that they’re not alone.
