The sweet way Kate Middleton followed in the Queen's parenting footsteps
We all know that raising kids can be tough, and that couldn't be truer than for the likes of Kate Middleton, who's raising her three children under the watchful eye of pretty much the entire world. Luckily, Kate has got some amazing parental figures to look up to for guidance, including Her Majesty the Queen – who was quite the trailblazer when it came to raising royal children.
And it seems the Queen made quite the impression on Kate, who opted to follow in her parenting footsteps by breastfeeding her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Traditionally, royal mothers didn't breastfeed their babies, but all that changed when the Queen welcomed her own children, as royal historian Amy Licence told The Guardian.
"Royal breastfeeding mothers are a relatively new phenomenon," Licence explained. "Historically, most royal mothers did not always believe that breast was best. In fact, in some cases, it was considered at best an inconvenience, at worst, downright harmful," resulting in the majority of royal babies being handed over to a wet nurse (a woman who breastfeeds another's child).
As for why royals avoided breastfeeding, Licence noted that: "Royal women were often little more than symbolic figures, delivering child after child to secure a dynasty. This was particularly important in times of high infant and child mortality, when the production of second, third and fourth sons were crucial. Breastfeeding offers a degree of contraceptive protection, so with their babies being fed by others, Queens were free to resume their duties and begin the process of conceiving the next heir."
But, not one to follow tradition too strictly, the Queen set her own standard and breastfed her four children, something which her daughter-in-law Princess Diana also decided to do as well, and later the Duchess of Cambridge. "Princess Diana insisted on nursing William and Harry herself", Licence revealed, adding that both Kate and Prince William frequently mentioned they were keen to take a "hands-on" approach with their royal babes.
Although Kate never got to meet Princess Di, who sadly passed away in 1997, she and William have clearly been inspired by her skills as a parent. When her sons were growing up, the Princess of Wales instilled the importance of good manners and always showing appreciation – something which Prince William and Kate Middleton have been upholding with their own children to ensure they stay humble.
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