EXCLUSIVE: The Prince and Princess of Wales may be busy with royal duties, but they have made sure they have plenty of time to spend as a family
Kate and William have made an effort to raise their children very differently
Gone are the days of six-month Royal tours and distant nurseries, when youngsters such as Prince Charles barely glimpsed their parents between official duties. For Kate Middleton, however, the traditional Royal handbook hasn’t merely been amended – it’s been completely transformed, as royal expert and author Katie Nicholl reveals that the mother-of-three has established one unwavering principle.
Before any official engagement or overseas visit gets the green light, Kate doesn’t begin with enquiries about diplomatic objectives or ceremonial attire. Her opening question is reportedly “How does this work for us as a family?”.
Whilst the couple do utilise the assistance of nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, who has been with the family since 2014, Kate endeavours to handle as much as possible personally.
Kate and William are taking a very different approach to raising their royal children(Image: PA)
“She likes to do the school run and all those things,” explains royal biographer Katie Nicholl. “From my conversations with aides, once a royal trip or engagement is planned, the first thing they ask before looking at the itinerary is, ‘how does this work for us as a family?'”, reports the Mirror.
Although Maria’s contribution proves vital, Katie describes her involvement as measured. “When they first had George, they didn’t even have a nanny, which the Queen thought was absolutely mad.”
“They do need Maria’s help because of their busy schedules, but it’s not 24/7 and she doesn’t live with them. We’re not talking about butlers, chefs and housekeepers either – it’s very slimline.”
Their nanny provides a ‘light touch’ of help with the three youngsters, experts say(Image: Getty Images)
This straightforward question highlights a dramatic transformation in how the monarchy approaches parenting. Whilst earlier generations, such as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, famously departed for a six-month Commonwealth tour in 1953, leaving behind five year old Charles and three year old Anne, such an arrangement would be utterly inconceivable today.
“Being a royal mother has changed dramatically,” Katie observes. “For women like the Princess of Wales, family now comes before everything else, and Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are growing up in a totally different age. Every effort is taken to ensure their childhood is as ordinary as possible – whether that be through playdates, school clubs or sitting down to eat together.”
Royal experts say Diana was the first royal mother to change some long-standing traditions(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
This contemporary approach can be traced back to Princess Diana, who revolutionised Royal parenting by bringing baby Prince William along on tour and championing public demonstrations of maternal affection.
Diana was also celebrated for exposing William and Harry to hospitals and homeless shelters, nurturing compassion in them from their earliest years, whilst encouraging them to participate in normal childhood pursuits.
“She injected a sense of fun into their lives, so there were trips to Thorpe Park and the cinema, and meals at McDonald’s,” Katie explains. “Life outside palace walls was very much Diana’s vision, and Kate and William have taken that further with their three children.”
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