Treasury shake-up was part of a war against unelected mandarins

complications of our children growing up and things like that.”

Facing the world

After leaving the Lindo Wing, the Duke was seen carefully putting a sleeping Prince George into a car to drive home.

Their smooth journey was no accident, the Duchess has disclosed, admitting they–like many parents–rehearsed how to work the car seat. “We were like, ‘What do we do? How’s this supposed to work?’ We’d even tried to practise with a little doll, but you know it never works out the way you planned.” She added part of her project was to see how parents could find more help in the “very lonely period” between the care of hospital and the community of a nursery or school, because “there isn’t a huge amount out there”.

A new mother

Joking there was no “eerie silence” when they got home from hospital, the Duchess said: “William was like, ‘Oh my gosh, is this what parenting is going to be like?’ It took us a bit of time to get ourselves settled and going again, but that’s the beauty of having a baby. You are pulled to your toughest and most unknown places that you hadn’t necessarily even thought about before.”

Now she has three children, she has noticed a difference. “It’s a bit hectic, you’re pulled in all sorts of directions,” she said. “When the third comes along, how can you physically get all three out of the car at the same time? You can’t.”

‘Mum guilt’

Describing how she often felt torn between her work and responsibilities in the Royal family and being present for her children, the Duchess said she “absolutely” suffered from “mum guilt”.

“Yep, all the time. Even this morning, George and Charlotte were like, ‘Mummy, how could you possibly not be dropping us off at school this morning?’ It’s a constant challenge – you hear it time and time again from mums.

“Always sort of questioning your own decisions and your own judgements. I think that starts from the moment you have a baby. A very wise man did say to me that actually we are more like animals than we think. We need people around us, the more people you have around your children, who are safe and loving and caring, the better.

“So it was a real weight off my shoulders that it’s not totally my responsibility to do everything, because we all have good days, bad days.”

Recreating her childhood

Acknowledging she was lucky to have a “very happy” childhood with “hugely dedicated” parents, she said she hoped to recreate memories of family holidays and outdoor play with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. “Sometimes the simple things like watching a fire on a really rainy day provide such enjoyment,” she said. “I remember that from my childhood, the simple things, going for a walk together, and that’s really what I try and do with my children because it totally strips away all the complications, all the pressures.

“I’ve got this photo of Charlotte smelling a bluebell, and, for me, moments like that mean so much to me as a parent. It’s spending quality time with your children, not whether you’ve done every single drop-off and pick-up, but quality moments you spend with your child where you’re properly listening to them, properly understanding what they feel and if things are going wrong, really taking time to think, ‘How as a mother am I feeling? Is it that I’m sitting down trying to do their maths and spelling homework over the weekend or is it that we’ve gone out and lit a bonfire and sat around trying to cook sausages that hasn’t worked because it’s too wet?’

“That’s what I would want them to remember. Not a stressful household where you’re trying to do everything, and not really succeeding at one thing.”

The full interview can be heard on the ‘Happy Mum, Happy Baby’ podcast, out now. The online survey can be found at: www.5bigquestions.org.uk.

SIR – The self-serving agendas of the Treasury’s Europhile advisers reminded me of the unaccountable bureaucrats in the EU Commission.

There was no point in freeing ourselves from the latter without getting rid of the former. Well done, Prime Minister. Christopher Timbrell

Kington Langley, Wiltshire

SIR – I voted to get rid of unelected EU bureaucrats – but all that seems to have happened is that Jean-Claude Juncker and the others have been replaced by Dominic Cummings. Dr Murat Akyol

Edinburgh

SIR – I am bemused by those accusing Boris Johnson of megalomania following the departure of Sajid Javid and the appointment of Rishi Sunak as Chancellor.

The December election was Mr Johnson’s election. He won it on the promise to root out Remainer fifth columnists and get Brexit done. That is precisely what he is doing, and I am sure he has the support of most of the country. George Kelly

Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire

SIR – Mr Johnson has chosen to surround himself with people who are loyal to him and his aims. Any who resist can expect to be ousted.

This approach has been successful for President Donald Trump, and many in Britain have been impressed by his firm approach to the US establishment.

I suspect Mr Johnson will exercise similar ruthlessness in resisting the British establishment – starting with the Civil Service. John Pritchard

Ingatestone, Essex

SIR – I felt uneasy about the resignation of Mr Javid.

Since the election it had seemed to me that we had a united Government and were all set for a period of political stability. This looks like the first crack and I fear that Mr Johnson will live to regret it. James Reeves

Bradfield, Berkshire

SIR – It is a shame that Mr Johnson has forced some good people out of his Cabinet. Healthy differences of opinion are an essential part of government.

Sacking Julian Smith after his sterling work to help reconvene Stormont was ill-judged. Mr Javid, meanwhile, is to be commended for sticking to his principles, rather than agreeing to keep his job while dismissing his team. What a pity we will never know what his Budget would have contained. Amanda Malas

Hartley, Kent

SIR – Let’s hope the departure of Mr Javid means the end of the ghastly mansion tax proposal (report, February 9). Mark Solon London E1