The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Kate tells single dad of duke’s parent struggle
The Duchess of Cambridge has told a single father how her husband, the Duke of Cambridge, initially found it difficult adjusting to parenthood.
Kate met father Billy, 39, during a visit to a care centre for expectant and new parents, after her own pregnancy led to a previous trip being delayed.
Billy is raising his sevenmonth-old daughter Violet alone after taking custody from her mother and spoke about his experiences at Hornsey Road Children’s Centre in north London.
The duchess, who is currently pregnant with her third child, described how William had felt he did not know what exactly to do when he first became a father.
Family Action, a charity of which the Queen is patron, is among the organisations providing services at the care facility, including vital care and mental health support for parents.
Speaking after meeting Kate, Billy said: “She was saying William was sort of similar and I just wanted to let her know how Family Action have been there for me and I think they need more support.”
Billy said the mother of his daughter showed up on his doorstep out of the blue, saying she was pregnant and had already had two children taken away so could not care for a third.
He said: “I was under mental health myself, I was suffering from severe depression and I thought I’m not going to let my daughter go into care, I’m going to step up and do this - I managed to turn myself around.
“I’ve been doing it from day one at the hospital, fed her her first bottle.”