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16 April 2024

Prince William's fatherhood struggles

Prince William and Kate Middleton (Bang)

Published
By Bang

Prince William struggled with fatherhood at first, according to his wife Duchess Catherine.

The 35-year-old royal and his wife Duchess Catherine welcomed their first child, Prince George, four years ago and Catherine has now revealed her husband found it difficult to know what to do at first.

Single father Billy - who has a seven-month-old daughter Violet - met with the Duchess at Hornsey Road Children's Centre in north London on Tuesday.

Speaking about their meeting, Billy said: "She said he did not know exactly what to do ... 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."

And speaking about his own experiences, he revealed the mother of his child showed up at his doorstep pregnant and said she had already had two children taken away from her.

Billy added: "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."

The Hornsey Road Children's Centre helps hundreds of children under five in the area.

Volunteer Maggie Sandy added: "We do offer support to dads specifically, I think it's so important because dads so often get left out in the mix after the birth of a baby, sometimes they get sidelined and their feelings and wishes aren't gathered."

One mother, Michelle, bonded with the Duchess - who also has Princess Charlotte, two, and is expecting her third child - over their sons' mutual love of aircraft.

She said: "She was asking about what Jacob liked and he said he liked aeroplanes and she was asking if he'd seen a Spitfire and we said we liked going to the Science Museum and RAF museum. She was saying how George likes helicopters, she was saying about the top floor of the Science Museum where the helicopters are."