Kate Middleton and Prince William have always made a point to do things their own way when it comes to raising kids Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
As part of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ mission to modernize the monarchy, their kids are having very different childhoods from young royals in the past. This is particularly true when it comes to their only daughter, who is already “quite astrong character,” according to what a royal source told PEOPLE this week.
“She’s clearly sporty like her mother. A bit of a mini-me,” a palace insider told the outlet of Charlotte, adding, “She’s a natural and has taken to royal events like a duck to water.”
One of the ways Will and Kate are fostering this quality in Charlotte is by taking a different approach to her education. Though princesses who came before her, included Princess Anne, attended all-girls schools, Charlotte currently goes to Lambrook School with her brothers, and royal expert Ingrid Seward told PEOPLE that’s a very intentional choice on her parents’ part.
“The monarchy has caught up with modern times, and instead of insisting on all-girl [or all-boy] schools, they want them to integrate as much as possible,” Seward said.
As Will and Kate continue to raise their young kids, knowing one of them will someday be king, they know “the importance of having that family time.”
“Getting the family right is absolutely critical, particularly in terms of what the nation expects of them,” a family friend said.