The Duchess of Cambridge will give her first-ever podcast interview on an episode of Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast on Saturday afternoon.
Kate met the parenting podcaster last month at the launch of her landmark 5 Big Questions on the Under Fives in Birmingham, and the two sat down to talk about everything from the survey to parenting and their experiences with early years and as mothers of three children, Kensington Palace revealed on Friday evening.
“If I take the experience from my own childhood, coupled with what I know now and what I’ve learnt from the experts in the Early Years sector, I think there’s a few things that really stand out for me,” Kate says in the podcast when asked about how her childhood experiences have informed her parenting.
“One is quality of relationships. So, those moments that you spend with people that are around you. I remember that from my own childhood. I had an amazing Granny who devoted a lot of time to us, playing with us, doing arts and crafts and going to the greenhouse to do gardening, and cooking with us, and I try and incorporate a lot of the experiences that she gave us at the time into the experiences that I give my children now.”
The Duchess continued, “There are also the environments you spend time in as well: a happy home, a safe environment. As children, we spent a lot of time outside, and it’s something I’m really passionate about. I think it’s so great for physical and mental wellbeing and laying [developmental] foundations. It’s such a great environment to spend time in, building those quality relationships without the distractions of ‘I’ve got to cook’ and ‘I’ve got to do this’. And actually, it’s so simple.”
Kate and Fletcher also discuss the 5 Big Questions survey and the royal’s work with the early years. Kate says, “What we’re doing with the survey is asking people—what is it that matters for them in raising their children today.
“It’s going to take a long time–I’m talking about a generational change–but hopefully this is the first small step: to start a conversation around the importance of Early Childhood Development. It’s not just about happy, healthy children. This is for lifelong consequences and outcomes.”
Kate says in the podcast, “I think ultimately if you look at who’s caring and looking after and nurturing children in the most vital period from pregnancy all the way to the age of five, you know parents and carers are right at the heart of that, and families are right at the heart of that, and although I’ve spoken to the scientists and the service providers, it’s so important to listen to families. What is it that they aspire to? What are their challenges?”
Fletcher says, “It doesn’t matter who you are, what you have, or where you come from – we’re all trying to do our best with our children while continuously doubting our decisions and wondering if we’re getting it completely wrong. Talking helps unite us all.
“Having been with the Duchess of Cambridge on a couple of engagements to celebrate the launch of the 5 Big Questions survey, it was clear how passionate she is about the Early Years. It was then beyond wonderful to sit and talk further about the survey, her work – for which she has so much knowledge, and her own experiences of being a mother. This is a very special episode of the podcast and I’m very excited for people to hear it.”
In a separate interview, Fletcher spoke about interviewing the Duchess of Cambridge, saying that “I don’t think I expected to hear any of it.
“I love hearing her very honest answers, how articulate and intelligent she is about early years… and how playful she is as well when she’s talking about her own kids…It’s a very unique position to be in when raising kids… The grassroots of it is we are all doing the same thing, we’re all having sleepless nights, going through potty training or whatever it is… and I think having the Duchess on really highlights that.”
Back in early 2019, she spoke to OK! Magazine and said that her dream podcast guests would be either Kate or the Duchess of Sussex because it would “show the listeners that mums are all the same. We’ve all got the same guilt, sleep deprivation and anxieties.”
Happy Mum Happy Baby is described as a show discusses all aspects of parenting in “a series of frank and warm conversations with other high-profile mums and dads…the highs, the lows, the challenges and rewards.
“There is no such thing as the perfect parent, and we’re all simply doing our best, something Giovanna fully encourages. It’s time to stop comparing ourselves and champion each other instead. Each episode is truly unique yet unifying. No topic is out of bounds, therefore this podcast is essential listening for any parent seeking solidarity and support.”
The special episode of Happy Mum Happy Baby will be available at 4:00 pm GMT.
