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    Kate Middleton has revealed what she wished she'd known as a new mum

    During a visit to a London parenting group, the Duchess learned some interesting facts about early years development

    Kate Hollowood's avatar
    By Kate Hollowood
    Published 9 February 2022 In News

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    Kate Middleton, Prince William and the royal baby
    Kate Middleton, Prince William and the royal baby
    (Image credit: PA)
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    During a visit to a London parenting group, the Duchess learned some interesting facts about early years development

    Being a new mum is a huge learning curve for anybody, from learning to understand your baby’s needs to adjusting to new sleeping patterns. 

    On Tuesday, the Duchess of Cambridge made a rare comment about her own experiences, as the mother of Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3.

    During a surprise visit to a community centre for parents in London, Kate, now 40, told volunteers how she wished she'd attended a similar group when she was a new mum.

    The sweet reason why Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte love wearing matching outfits

    The Southwark-based centre, called PACT (Parents and Communities Together), runs "Parent University" courses for expectant parents and those with newborn babies. 

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    Kate met with volunteers and attendees from the centre's weekly MumSpace group. 

    Leaders Josephine Namusisi-Riley and health visitor Simonette Guerra described how the course dealt with the importance of the early years, including brain and language development, and play.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

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    The Duchess revealed: "As a new mum I would have liked that. I think I would have learned a lot. The importance of play." 

    She continued: "What’s so fantastic is seeing the amazing work that's going on here. That support you're providing is amazing. The science backs it up." 

    Prince William Kate Middleton Prince George Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attend a pantomime performance paying tribute to key workers

    The Duchess has a special interest in early years development, as she’s just launched a new arm of the Royal Foundation, the charity she runs with husband Prince William. The Foundation’s new Centre for Early Childhood will focus on research, solutions and campaigns that champion the huge impact our early years can have on the rest of our lives.

    News about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s parenting tricks often goes viral, whether it’s their strict response to naughty behaviour or their preference for practical Christmas gifts. With such a down to earth approach to parenting, it’s no wonder their techniques are so popular.

    Kate Hollowood
    Kate Hollowood
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    Kate Hollowood is a freelance journalist and writes about a range of topics for Marie Claire UK, from reports on royal news and current affairs to features on health, careers and relationships. Based in London, Kate has also written for titles like the i paper, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan and It’s Nice That.
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