I am probably the most un-princessy princess you'll come across, but as a 12-year old marrying a prince was high on my list of things to do. Probably the same for many a 12-year old girl!
But Kate Middleton was the one who ended up living my dream... and as I watched the Royal Nuptials whilst celebrating my own honeymoon, I will admit to a twinge of jealousy (mostly because I would have loved to have had even 1/1000th of the money spent on their wedding; we could have had a live band then!)
Fast forward just over two years, and now everyone is waiting with baited breath for the newest addition to the Royal Household.
This time, there is not even a hint of jealousy, only sympathy.
My #2 was two weeks overdue (such fun times!), and it was bad enough having family, friends and random strangers asking me when the baby was due, regularly interspersed with the "you're huge, shouldn't you have had that baby by now?" question.
I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for the Duchess to be heavily pregnant and effectively forced into confinement, if for no other reason than to avoid the press! Let alone to read all the speculation about her due date and whether she was overdue or not.
My #2 was two weeks overdue (such fun times!), and it was bad enough having family, friends and random strangers asking me when the baby was due, regularly interspersed with the "you're huge, shouldn't you have had that baby by now?" question.
I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for the Duchess to be heavily pregnant and effectively forced into confinement, if for no other reason than to avoid the press! Let alone to read all the speculation about her due date and whether she was overdue or not.
And now, she's in "early labour" and the world is on tenterhooks for the arrival of the third in line to the throne. The press camped outside the hospital, waiting for the announcement of the newest Prince or Princess.
What pressure for a first time mum!
But my main sympathy lies in the days ahead; those first heady days of being a new mum, of getting to know your baby outside of your belly, of falling in love with the tiny human being that you created.
When both my sons were born, those first few hours of it being just me, Husband and the baby were the most private and precious moments I have ever experienced. My babies were out, and they all mine.
So I can't begin to imagine how it must feel, knowing that as soon as this baby arrives it will essentially become public property.
If I were Kate, I'd be pretending that I had been in labour for 36hrs, just to have some cherished normal "brand new parents" time with the baby and William.
I'm sure (I hope!!) that the press will continue to keep a respectable distance from the new family.
I hope that the little one is given the opportunity to grow up away from the glare as much as possible.
But more than anything else, I hope that Prince William and Duchess Catherine are given the privacy to enjoy every new moment with their baby.
