Even though Kate Middleton has three children of her own, it's always good to get more experience. The Duchess of Cambridge more or less pulled her own version of Undercover Boss after spending a few days helping out in the maternity ward in a London hospital. The news was first reported by the November 28 Court Circular, which, according to Glamour, wrote that "The Duchess of Cambridge, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, today completed two days with Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit in London."
So what does that mean? Kate, more or less, shadowed midwives and spent some time bonding with newborns. Not only did it give her some work experience outside of her standard volunteering, but it also helped her gain more knowledge about early childhood. Even though Kate has done a fantastic job with her kids, it's tough to compare. For one, it's different delivering at a hospital when you don't have things on lockdown or reporters anxiously waiting for news of the birth. Chances are, mobs of people weren't waiting outside the door for their first look at the newborns. Many of the women who gave birth also don't have the same type of assistance that Kate does.
It's safe to say that Kate really does have a unique interest in children. Even if she wasn't in the spotlight, she was likely destined to be a mom.
Kate got married to Prince William in April 2011 and announced her first pregnancy in December 2012. Prince George Alexander Louis was born on July 22, 2013. He sneaked his way into third place in line for the throne, bumping Prince Harry back.
Kate didn't waste much time announcing her second pregnancy. In September 2014, it was revealed that she and William were expecting their second child. This time, they had a girl, born May 2, 2015. They named her Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge.
While many assumed that the couple might stop at two, especially with Kate suffering from persistent acute morning sickness with both pregnancies, she shocked us again. In September 2017, Kate announced that a third babe was on the way. Knowing that Kate had such a rough time with both previous pregnancies just shows how much she loves motherhood.
Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge was born on April 23, 2018. Kate didn't only make headlines due to the fact that she had given birth. She also raised some eyebrows from pregnant women everywhere for looking absolutely perfect and camera-ready just hours after her labor. (The red dress she wore in photos was an incredible choice.)
Based on the timing, it's possible that Kate may have baby fever again — especially if she's been hanging out with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born this May. He's the first child for the pair, who've been in the media quite a bit recently.
Even though people tried to tell Meghan that the media exposure she would face would be incredible, it seems to have been more than she expected — especially since she's a mixed-race American, making her one of the very few in the royal family. Hopefully, Kate has been able to make sure her sister-in-law doesn't let the press get her down.
Even though there are often rumors of tension between the two, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle really do have a lot in common. Both of them know the importance of discussing mental health, which is a topic that's just starting to normalize. Kate has worked on the mental health awareness campaign "Heads Together" with her husband and Prince Harry, starting back in 2006.
As for Meghan, she recently opened up about her struggles as a new mother. She also encouraged her husband to open up about mental health issues for a podcast called Mad World. Harry admitted that he had to seek some help in dealing with how to cope with the loss of his mother many years after the tragedy took place.
In general, the "Fab Four," as they're often called, are quick to promote health at every level. And based on Kate's work at the maternity ward, she's proven that you're never too old to keep learning. While the experience was rewarding for her, surely those around her were eager to share information on what they knew about infant health.
Kate has been outspoken about children's health before. This past May, she unveiled her work on a garden for the Chelsea Flower Show. Hers was an outdoor project focused on nature. She believes that outside learning is truly beneficial for children, and she wrote a beautiful letter explaining how.
"The first few years of life, from conception to five, are pivotal for our future health, happiness, and ability to cope with adversity — and probably more so than at any other point of our lifetime," she wrote, according to Harper's Bazaar. "Understanding that our brain develops to 90 percent of its adult size within these first five years helps crystalize how our experiences in these earliest years are so impactful, and influences who we become as individuals."
You can bet that her children have a lot of outdoor experiences when the weather is nice. It could be why plenty of Kate and William's family photos happen to be set outdoors. Not only is the natural lighting good, but it shows that there's so much to do and learn about when we step outside of our homes.
Unfortunately, more isn't known about Kate's time at the maternity ward. But maybe it's a good thing that the experience was more or less a secret. It could have been a nice surprise for new moms to meet the duchess during such a magical time, knowing it wasn't just a moment created for the cameras and the tabloids.
Who knows? If you work in England, perhaps Kate Middleton will pop into your office next. Just because she's a duchess doesn't mean that she's not willing to venture out and see what life is like outside of Kensington Palace.
