Princess of Wales Offers Empathy to Husband Whose Wife Battled Severe Morning Sickness

During a visit to Kent aimed at highlighting the importance of supporting young individuals with disabilities and their families, the Princess of Wales extended her heartfelt sympathy to a father who shared the harrowing experience of his wife's extreme morning sickness. In a poignant moment, she reassured him with the words, "I know what that feels like."

At 41 years of age, the Princess graced the Orchards Centre in Sittingbourne, Kent, with her presence, emphasizing the crucial significance of supporting children with special needs and their families.

This marked the inauguration of a series of engagements leading up to Christmas, all in dedicated support of her enduring "Shaping Us" campaign, which champions early childhood development. Engaging warmly with the toddlers, the Princess gently rubbed their backs and playfully tickled their tummies while participating in a sensory session.

Steve Ikebuwa, a devoted father of four from Gravesend, shared his family's journey, particularly focusing on his 11-month-old son Nathan, who grapples with profound learning difficulties. Mr. Ikebuwa expressed profound gratitude for the invaluable assistance provided by the Kent Portage Service, which played a pivotal role in his child's development.

In a poignant revelation, Mr. Ikebuwa disclosed that, similar to the Princess, his wife had battled hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness characterized by intense vomiting during pregnancy. The Princess, displaying empathy, responded, "I've walked that path too. I can truly empathize with your experience."

The mother of three herself had been hospitalized in 2012 while pregnant with Prince George, later candidly revealing in a podcast that her pregnancy journey hadn't been the happiest of times.

Mr. Ikebuwa, 44, later shared his profound connection with the Princess following his reference to the condition: "It was as if my words struck a chord with her. You could visibly see her expression change as she connected with the shared experience. She had gone through the same ordeal, and that resonated deeply with me."

This visit served as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by countless parents and caregivers who grapple with the demands of caring for children with special needs, often navigating limited time and resources.

The Princess has made the early years a cornerstone of her mission, officially launching "Shaping Us" in January under the auspices of the Royal Foundation for Early Childhood.

Adorned in black trousers and a vibrant red jacket, she actively participated in a sensory development class alongside a diverse group of children, each with their unique needs and conditions, ranging from social communication difficulties to autism and Down's Syndrome. With enthusiasm, she assisted the children in coating toys with foam and joyfully scattered tinsel and shredded paper.

Displaying her characteristic warmth, the Princess couldn't help but commend a young girl named Skylar, nearly two years old, who reveled in spreading foam over herself and her peers. She shared laughter and joy with Beatrice, a spirited three-year-old whose shrieks of delight filled the room as shredded paper cascaded around her. She also extended her applause to Darcie, a three-year-old girl with Down's Syndrome, as she carefully poured brightly colored squares of paper into a cup.

With a warm smile, the Princess praised, "Well done," and referring to her youngest son, added, "Louis has a classmate just like Darcie."

The class was expertly conducted by the dedicated Kent Portage Team. The National Portage Association, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, serves as a home-visiting educational resource for children with special needs from birth until preschool age. Collaborating with over 100 portage services, it provides a robust quality framework and comprehensive training for both practitioners and parents, enriching the lives of children with special needs.