TERRIFIED

have done things differently, even during my pregnancy, than I would have done now – knowing the importance of the early years.”

In another candid admission, Kate confesses she would have managed her approach to children differently even before she had given birth.

“Even in pregnancy,” she says. “Because you know the science, and I found that fascinating to see the wellbeing of the mother – not just physically, you know there’s so much information about making sure you exercise and making sure you have a healthy diet and things like that, which, yes, is definitely important.

“But the emotional wellbeing of the mother directly impacts the baby that you’re growing.

“It’s difficult, and also with life’s challenges and everything like that, it really is hard. I was a lot more aware of it third time round than I was the first time round.”

ON FIRST MOMENTS

Kate calls the first cuddles with George in her arms “extraordinary” and “amazing, amazing”. She adds: “It is extraordinary, as I’ve said, how can the human body do that?”

She also admits she was “relieved” that he was “a happy, healthy boy.” (The couple had chosen not to find out his sex in advance.)

Kate fondly recalls the moment William first looked at their son. “Seeing the pure joy of his face, it was really special,” she says.

ON LONELINESS

The Duchess hints how she experienced some loneliness during her children’s pre-school years. That’s one

of the reasons that her early-years’ work is focused on helping mums with young children.

She says: “I think a lot of the work that we’ve been trying to do, in terms of looking around the early years, is actually providing that link because you then have the health visitor who comes and does the standard checkups and things like that.

“But having had such a wonderful support network through pregnancy and delivery from nurses and