‘Hands-on’ Kate shares sweet picture of Charlotte smelling flower

The Duchess of Cambridge has released a touching picture of Princess Charlotte smelling a bluebell.

In a candid discussion about parenthood, Kate opened up about how important being outside is for children.

She described herself as a ‘hands-on mum’, but said she often feels she falls short of expectations about being a mother.

The duchess was interviewed for the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, hosted by Giovanna Fletcher, who has also written about being a mother to three children with her husband Tom Fletcher, a singer in the band McFly.

Kate was asked what parts of her childhood she wanted to give to her children, and spoke poignantly about a picture of her four-year-old daughter which was released on Saturday.

It was taken by the duchess at their home in Norfolk in spring last year.

She said: ‘I’ve got this one photo of Charlotte smelling a bluebell, and really for me, it’s moments like that mean so much to me as a parent.

‘And I try every day to put moments like that in, even if they’re small or even if I don’t have time – but that in an ideal world is what I would like to do.’

Kate said that she felt ‘really passionate’ about children spending time outside.

She added: ‘As children we spent an awful lot of time outside and it’s something I’m really passionate about.

‘It’s so great for physical well-being and also mental well-being and actually really laying those foundations.

‘It’s also a really great environment to spend time building those quality relationships without the distractions.’

The Duchess of Cambridge also confessed to struggling with ‘mummy guilt’ and said she tried ‘hypnobirthing’ when pregnant.

Kate suffered from a severe form of morning sickness during her pregnancies, which led her to mindfulness and meditation to remove the fears mothers can feel about childbirth – known as hypnobirthing.

Asked if she struggled from ‘mum guilt’, the duchess replied: ‘Yes absolutely – and anyone who doesn’t as a mother is actually lying. Yes – all the time.’

The duchess, who has a nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, said during the podcast: ‘There’s such a pull, but I am such a hands-on mum, and whatever you’re doing you want to make sure you’re doing the uttermost best job you can for your children.’