Being fourth in line to the British throne has its benefits for Prince Louis, the 7-year-old son of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The little boy has two older siblings — so if there is an heir and a spare, he would be the spare’s spare — but still, royal insiders say he has one distinct advantage over his brother Prince George, 12, and sister Princess Charlotte, 10.
Princess Kate has long been praised for her ability to laugh off her youngest child’s antics, and experts think this has something to do with the fact that Louis is the youngest. Parenting expert Sophie David recently told Hello, “The Princess of Wales shows us how important it is to nurture a child’s playful side, even in formal settings.”
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 14: Prince Louis of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour 2025 on June 14, 2025 in London, England. Trooping The Colour is a ceremonial parade celebrating the official birthday of the British Monarch. The event features over 1,400 soldiers and officers, accompanied by 200 horses. More than 400 musicians from ten different bands and Corps of Drums march and while performing. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
“With Prince Louis, we often see her giving him the freedom to be cheeky, giggle, and explore the world around him,” she continued. “Kate’s warmth and gentle encouragement remind us that playfulness is at the heart of childhood, and it’s lovely to see Louis’ cheeky, happy side shine through wherever he goes.”
One reason the Princess of Wales stays calm is because the eyes of the world are on her. Not to mention, there is so much less pressure with Prince Louis than, say, with Prince George, who is next in line to the throne after his father.
“The youngest child arrives into a ready-made family dynamic, so they benefit from socializing with older siblings and develop social and communication skills early on,” royal insider Alicia Eaton told the outlet. She added that the parents’ confidence impacts the youngest child as well. “The sense of calm and confidence [with the youngest] creates a reassuring environment, allowing the youngest child to thrive with a greater sense of security. This then leads to a more playful and relaxed relationship with parents.”
In other words, this is not William and Kate’s first rodeo, and they don’t seem as stressed about how their young child acts now.
Psychologists have long debated on whether birth order makes a difference for siblings. One 2015 study found that firstborns scored higher on intelligence tests; however, there were no birth-order impact on extraversion, emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness, or imagination.
As the eldest daughter and second-born out of a family of six kids, I definitely feel more responsible than my younger siblings. This might have something to do with the fact that I was helping take care of them as they grew up and they were allowed to be carefree kids, plus my parents seemed to mellow out as they got older. Now that I have three kids, I can see how you get less anxious and care less about little things the more children you have.
So, if Middleton gives Louis a longer rein, I get it. Even though his birth order probably isn’t responsible for his silly and laidback personality, it may have something to do with giving him the experience of more laidback parents. Or it could be that they are intentionally harder on George and even Charlotte, as they’re closer to the line of succession.
This doesn’t necessarily seem to be the case, though. Commentator Kinsey Schofield told Daily Star in 2023 that the Waleses are “determined to break the heir and the spare cycle” like the one Prince William and Prince Harry had.
“I don’t believe the word ‘spare’ has ever been uttered inside their home to describe one or more of their babies,” Schofield added. “It is just not on their radar. They wanted to have a large loving family.”
“William and Catherine are teaching their children about royal responsibilities through doing them,” Schofield told the outlet, adding that Middleton “seems affectionate, supportive, and engaging as a mother.”
Before you go, check out Prince Louis’ sassiest moments at Trooping the Colour over the years.
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