Karen Millen is forced to apologise for her controversial views on breastfeeding a three-year-old child

For almost 50 years she has brought joy to women by providing them with affordable and stylish clothing.

But Karen Millen enraged the mothering community on Wednesday when she claimed it was ‘selfish’ to breastfeed after six months and was forced to issue an apology.

Appearing on the Vanessa Feltz show, the 64-year-old was asked what she thought about mothers still breastfeeding their three-year-old children.

The fashion designer said: ‘There’s no benefit, is there? For a child to be breastfed beyond six months, really. I think it’s quite a selfish thing on the mother’s part.

‘I just think, you know, that’s not good emotionally for that child.’

The mother-of-three’s comments caused a stir among mothers on social media who called her comments ‘rude’, ‘judgemental’ and ‘factually inaccurate’.

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Karen appeared on Vanessa Feltz’s show on Wednesday and shared her views on mothers breastfeeding their three-year-old children explaining it was ‘selfish’

Karen has three children Josh, 35, Jordan, 33, and Jake, 28, with Kevin Stanford, her ex-husband and former business partner

The fashion designer has been slammed for being ‘rude’, ‘judgemental’ and ‘factually inaccurate’ for her views against breastfeeding a three-year-old child

Karen was then forced to issue an apology and from her stylish cottage in Kent, she recorded a video message and said: ‘I know I have upset a lot of people. I have three children and I breastfed all three of them up until six, or seven months.

‘Despite being incredibly painful I got mastitis each time and cracked and sore nipples.

‘But I did it because I knew it was the best thing for them for at least six months.

‘So, you know, I think my issue was more on the fact that, you know, as a baby breast milk is the best.’

She added before signing off: ‘Anyway, everyone has their own personal choice and decision in these things and I respect that.’

The World Health Organisation recommends infants are breastfed exclusively for the first six months of their lives and then up to the age of two and beyond if that suits the family.’

Ms Millen has three children Josh, 35, Jordan, 33, and Jake, 28, with Kevin Stanford, her ex-husband and former business partner, and is currently in a relationship with consultant psychiatrist, Ben Charnaud.

Karen has three children Josh, 35, Jordan, 33, and Jake, 28, with Kevin Stanford, her ex-husband and former business partner

The infamous UK fashion designer has been dressing women since she opened her label in 1981

Comedian Katherine Ryan hit out at Karen in the comment section for her ‘controversial’ views on breastfeeding

But her apology has not appeased many with the likes of comedian Katherine Ryan, who is pregnant with her fourth child, blasting Ms Millen’s reasoning.

The 41-year-old said: ‘Everyone knows: an infant baby becomes a full calf at six months old and that’s when milk from a natural source [cow] becomes more suitable than milk from its mother of the same birth species.’

Meanwhile, the reality star, Ferne McCann, said: ‘I really do understand that this topic stirs strong feelings on all sides.

‘But what is important and actually very positive is that breastfeeding is spoken about more.’

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