Duchess of Cambridge praises new mums for supporting each other during lockdown
The Duchess of Cambridge has praised new mums for supporting each other during lockdown, saying it would be so important for their “emotional well-being”.
Kate, 38, held a socially distanced catch-up with mothers and their babies in London’s Battersea Park on Tuesday morning.
She wore pink trousers and a white top, with Superga trainers, and held her sunglasses throughout the meeting.
The visit came after the duchess had held a video call with ‘early years’ experts from eight organisations, including Leeds Dads and the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).
She discussed their work helping parents with young children and told them: “A huge well done to all of you, I know there’s a big team of you out there in communities across the country.
“Both William and I hear about how vital these relationships are to families – they’re a real lifeline.
“So to you and your army of volunteers out there, a huge well done.
“I, like you, would love to see peer-to-peer support more embedded and celebrated in communities and society as a whole.”
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At the Old English Garden in Battersea Park, Kate was told how peer groups struggled to meet up in person during lockdown and so kept up their work over video and phone calls.
She met mothers Nalini Sadai and Jessie Brett who provide support at the NCT.
The duchess said: “It’s good being able to listen and being listened (to) while being off guard.
“It is so important for your emotional well-being.
“With your experiences it’s so important that you’ve been through it.
“Without what you are providing, that form of relationship, you can feel so isolated.
“You should be very proud.”
Early years work has been an important focus for the duchess during her royal life, and she backed the BBC’s Tiny Happy People initiative in July, following months of behind the scenes work.
The resources the duchess is endorsing include activities, play ideas and videos aimed at parents of 0-4 year olds to help develop communication and language skills, and she called them “gold dust” for new parents.
