From series one of my podcast Happy Mum, Happy Baby I’ve had one dream guest – the Duchess of Cambridge. My first request was turned down when she was suffering with bad hyperemesis, and the second when her schedule was particularly busy.
However, by now aware of my passion for opening up conversations around motherhood, last year Kensington Palace asked me to talk about the duchess’ passion for early years. Her team wanted to look at how we could work together to raise more awareness of her Five Big Questions survey.
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At the time, we were told we might have 10 minutes with Kate, and the rest of the podcast would be interviews with academics, researchers and practitioners she has spent eight years working with.
Then, earlier this year, while I was waiting for confirmation on the podcast, we met for the first time in Birmingham and had a private five-minute chat where we spoke about maternal mental health, and how important it is to take the judgement out of parenting and provide support instead.
A group discussion with other parents followed – a further insight into how we all face very similar challenges with our children. It was a relaxed and candid conversation, and the next time the podcast recording with the duchess was mentioned by Kensington Palace, I had been given a 45-minute slot. I must’ve done something right in Birmingham!
Needless to say I had a few sleepless nights of worry and panic in the run-up. I always say that we need to look at what unites us in parenting, that it doesn’t matter who you are, what you have or what you do – we’re all facing many of the same battles with our kids.
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Yet, the fact she is raising a future King obviously wasn’t lost on me. In fact, it was only when I started thinking about the questions I would ask in the episode that I started to regain a sense of control.
Outside all the fluff and noise, this was ultimately a conversation between two mothers. Well, I thought to myself, I can do that! We recorded the episode in a nursery in Stockwell, south London, in January, following a royal engagement together, where we chatted to staff and parents before dishing out breakfast to some of the children.
Kids are always a fab ice breaker, and it’s thanks to them that the duchess and I were having a giggle as we walked into the recording – particularly as one little girl had renamed us Daddy and Mummy Pig. And it turned out Kate was as nervous as I was.
Having listened to previous episodes of the podcast with Emma Willis and Fearne Cotton, she knew what was to come. Up to this point she hadn’t spoken personally about certain aspects of her own experiences, despite so much being written in the media.
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This was new for us both. Coffee was poured into delicate china cups and ginger nut biscuits were laid out – someone else’s thoughtful gesture to get us both relaxed and comfortable.
I took a dive into the intro and slowly felt the nerves ease off. I was blown away by the duchess’ willingness to share her own personal experiences of motherhood, and also her knowledge, understanding and passion for the early years. As soon as she started talking, I knew this episode didn’t need any other voices.
Hers was powerful enough. And when the conversation steered towards her own family life there was such an endearing warmth about her – she enjoyed being able to share, just like any other parent who has been in the studio with me.
Having met Kate, I can say she radiates an enchanting grace. She’s friendly, self-deprecating, interested in what others have to say, courteous and eager to learn. Although I was aware I was in the presence of royalty, she never made me feel “lesser than”.
An hour into recording, while taking a break, we both sipped from our cups, finding our coffee cold. A staple of mum life that, on this occasion, made me smile.
As we parted with a hug and a kiss, she asked me to keep in touch, but how, I wondered, does one keep in touch with a duchess? I guess I’ll find out.
