Princess Kate gave a rare insight into the severe morning sickness she experienced during her pregnancies in Kent this week, telling a fellow parent: "I know what that feels like.”
The Princess of Wales, 41, turned heads wearing a red Zara blazer while visiting the Orchards Centre in Sittingbourne, Kent, to highlight the importance of supporting children with special needs.
This outing was the first in a series of engagements that the princess is planning to promote her Shaping Us campaign.
Princess Kate got talking to Steve Ikebuwa, a father-of-four from Gravesend, whose 11-month-old son Nathan has profound learning difficulties.
WATCH NOW: Princess Kate arrives in Kent to promote Shaping Us campaign
He told Kate that his wife had suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, a type of morning sickness that causes severe vomiting during pregnancy.
The princess replied: “I went through that. I know what that feels like.”
In 2012, during her pregnancy with Prince George, Kate was rushed to hospital when she began to feel unwell.
In 2020, the princess sat down for the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast with host Giovanna Fletcher, where she admitted she was “not the happiest of pregnant people”.
Kate played with children during her outing in Kent
PA
Kate laughed as the children tore up paper and tinsel
PA
Ikebuwa, 44, said his confession about his wife “ struck a chord” with Kate.
He claimed: “You can see her expression change – she went through the same thing.
“I remember one of her visits in a hospital she said something about how she had hyperemesis gravidarum.
"You can see her connection to the fact that my wife went through all that, and that really resonated with me.”
Princess Kate suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancies
PA
Princess Kate was able to relate to a parent about morning sickness
PA
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Kate joined a sensory development class during her visit
PA
Kate's visit focused on parents with children who have special needs, and the difficulties they face with getting resources.
The Princess of Wales launched Shaping Us in January this year but has focused on the early years for many years.
She joined a sensory development class with a group of children who had social communication difficulties, autism and Down’s Syndrome.
Kate joined in with the children who were playing with toys and throwing tinsel and shredded paper.
