Queen decided to break breastfeeding tradition and paved way for Princess Diana and Kate Middleton

dailyrecord.co.uk:

After giving birth, new mum's make the decision on whether they want to breastfeed or formula feed their newborns. And whilst it's not always an option for some, it can be quite a big decision to make if you have the choice.

When Kate Middleton became a mum, she had some amazing parental figures around her, including the Queen, who is said to have been a big influence in how Kate fed her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

According to tradition, royal mothers didn't breastfeed their babies, but all that changed when the Queen welcomed her own children, as royal historian Amy Licence told The Guardian. "Royal breastfeeding mothers are a relatively new phenomenon," Licence explained."Historically, most royal mothers did not always believe that breast was best.

In fact, in some cases, it was considered at best an inconvenience, at worst, downright harmful."This meant that the majority of royal babies were handed over to a wet nurse (a woman who breastfeeds another's child).As for why royals avoided breastfeeding, Licence explained that: "Royal women were often little more than symbolic figures, delivering child after child to secure a dynasty."This was particularly important in times of high infant and child mortality when the production of second, third and fourth sons was crucial."Breastfeeding offers a degree of contraceptive protection, so with their babies being fed by others, Queens were free to resume their duties and begin the process of conceiving the next heir."The Queen's daughter-in-law Princess Diana also decided to breastfeed as well, and later the Duchess of Cambridge."Princess Diana insisted on nursing William and Harry herself", Licence revealed, adding that both Kate and