At a visit to a charity that runs a helpline for parents, Kate Middleton said it is vital for parents to have access to support. Photo / Getty
At a visit to a charity that runs a helpline for parents, Kate Middleton said it is vital for parents to have access to support. Photo / Getty
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have spoken about the stress of looking after young children, and Prince William has revealed the emotional impact of his job as an Air Ambulance pilot.
At a recent charity event for YoungMinds, an organisation that helps parents of children suffering from mental healthproblems, Prince William said he didn't want to hear the distressing stories as he would be in "floods of tears".
A Daily Mail article described how the Duke and Duchess listened to some of the live calls that came through the helpline at the charity, but both were apprehensive before donning the headsets.
The Duchess of Cambridge listens as a volunteer takes a call at the UK charity, YoungMinds. Photo / Getty
Prince William said he wanted an easier call as he already deals with heartbreaking tragedies in his line of work with the Air Ambulance.
"I've had too many sad families with the Air Ambulance. I can't deal with any more stuff, he said. "Can I have an easy one please? I'm carrying a lot of things at the moment."
Kate Middleton said that like any parents, they worry about their children.
"What we've taken away is just how normal it is [to worry]," she said. "We are parents ourselves, we face worries, because we've got small young children."
Speaking to the charity volunteers about the work they do, she said it was vital for parents to have access to non-judgemental support.
As the charity volunteers spoke about taking calls, Prince William asked "how do you keep your own emotions out of it? How do you keep your own story out of it?"
While visiting the charity, Prince William said dealing with the tragedy that comes with his job at the Air Ambulance takes an emotional toll. Photo / Getty
After listening to a couple of calls, the duchess said she could hear the emotion in the caller's voice, and the relief at the end of the conversation.
"It is important that parents understand that you can't be brilliant at everything, William said. "It is totally fine to talk about it and to seek help and to speak out, because we're not all superheroes."
