Katie Price has acknowledged the profound suffering her children endured during her period of breakdown, admitting she was unaware of the extent of their struggles at the time.
Appearing on This Morning, the 48-year-old discussed her new Sky documentary, "Katie Price: Nothing to Hide," which features her children, Junior and Princess Andre, tearfully recounting their childhood experiences. Their recollections detail a period when Price battled depression and a cocaine addiction following the collapse of her marriage to Kieran Hayler.
During this time, Junior, then 13, and Princess, 10, reportedly began to care for themselves and their younger siblings, Jett and Bunny. They described their mother returning home under the influence of drugs after nights of partying. Price expressed her heartbreak upon hearing their accounts, stating she had believed she was being a "perfect mum" but was instead "vacant."
"It kills me I put them through that," Price said, reflecting on her children's realization that she was not mentally present to care for them. She acknowledged that while she thought she was providing for them, she wasn't the mother they needed or wanted during that period.
In the documentary, Junior shared his memories of trying to prepare meals for his siblings and the fear he felt upon realizing his mother was under the influence. Princess recalled clutching a blanket sprayed with her mother's perfume as a comfort during lonely times. Junior also recounted waking up to find his mother in a state that scared him, recognizing a pattern of her struggling with addiction.
Junior ultimately moved in with his father, Peter Andre, at the age of 14, while Princess remained, wanting to support her mother. Junior described his father's home as a stable environment where he could regain his sanity while hoping for his mother's recovery. He expressed feeling inadequate because his mother was not prioritizing her own well-being for her children.
The situation culminated in September 2021 when Price, who was experiencing suicidal thoughts, flipped her car while driving under the influence. She subsequently pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance. She received a suspended sentence and a driving ban, along with a court-mandated rehabilitation stay where she was diagnosed with ADHD.
Junior expressed relief that his mother is still alive, believing the near-fatal incident served as a wake-up call. He feels a sense of duty of care towards her and believes he has "got his mum back." However, he also voiced a hope that she would find more self-reliance and less dependence on male validation, citing her quick marriage to a man she had only known for days as an example of concerning behavior.
The documentary also touches upon Price's relationships, including her fourth marriage to Lee Andrews, a businessman who has faced accusations of fraud from ex-partners. Andrews has denied these allegations and claimed he was imprisoned on suspicion of espionage. Price's previous marriages include those to Peter Andre, Alex Reid, and Kieran Hayler, the father of her two youngest children.