{"id":378104,"date":"2025-08-27T16:53:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T16:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/378104\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T16:53:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T16:53:15","slug":"prince-william-is-very-happy-to-take-the-lead-from-carole-and-michael-middleton-in-parenting-decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/378104\/","title":{"rendered":"Prince William Is \u201cVery Happy to Take the Lead\u201d From Carole and Michael Middleton in Parenting Decisions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"10d9f810-c714-47c4-a79b-ec04b00c9a97\">Growing up, <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/tag\/prince-william\/\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/tag\/prince-william\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prince William<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/tag\/prince-harry\/\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/tag\/prince-harry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prince Harry<\/a> <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/princess-diana-wanted-prince-harry-william-to-experience-live-beyond-the-palace-walls-royal-expert\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/princess-diana-wanted-prince-harry-william-to-experience-live-beyond-the-palace-walls-royal-expert\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">enjoyed freedoms<\/a> that their father, King Charles, never could have imagined as a child. But along with taking <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/princess-diana-canceled-kensington-palace-lunch-mcdonalds-happy-meal-royal-chef\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/princess-diana-canceled-kensington-palace-lunch-mcdonalds-happy-meal-royal-chef\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trips to McDonald&#8217;s<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/prince-george-prince-charlotte-prince-louis-unlikely-photo\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/prince-george-prince-charlotte-prince-louis-unlikely-photo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">theme parks<\/a> with Princess Diana, the young princes still had to endure forced photo calls with the press, paparazzi at school drop-off and a very public childhood. Kate Middleton, on the other hand, experienced a much more <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/prince-george-different-raising-other-heirs\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/prince-george-different-raising-other-heirs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">normal upbringing<\/a> with parents <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/kate-middletons-parents-make-a-surprising-cameo-in-cancer-update-video\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/kate-middletons-parents-make-a-surprising-cameo-in-cancer-update-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Carole and Michael Middleton<\/a> in the Berkshire countryside\u2014and it&#8217;s something that the Prince of Wales is keen to replicate for his own kids as much as possible.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to parenting, &#8220;Kate\u2019s family has set the pace, and William has been very happy to take the lead from them,&#8221; author Robert Lacey told <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/prince-george-boy-who-will-be-king-most-normal-12-year-old-future-monarch-exclusive-11798388\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/people.com\/prince-george-boy-who-will-be-king-most-normal-12-year-old-future-monarch-exclusive-11798388\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\">People<\/a> in a new cover story about <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/tag\/prince-george\/\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/tag\/prince-george\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prince George<\/a>&#8216;s life as the future King. &#8220;Many decisions they\u2019ve made echo Middleton decisions,&#8221; he continued.<\/p>\n<p>These choices include moving <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/prince-george-12th-birthday-louis-charlotte-princess-kate\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/prince-george-12th-birthday-louis-charlotte-princess-kate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prince George, 12<\/a>, <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/tag\/princess-charlotte\/\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/tag\/princess-charlotte\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Princess Charlotte<\/a>, 10, and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/tag\/prince-louis-of-cambridge\/\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/tag\/prince-louis-of-cambridge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prince Louis<\/a>, 7, from living in the middle of a tourist attraction at <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/princess-kate-kensington-palace-caged-animal\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/princess-kate-kensington-palace-caged-animal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kensington Palace<\/a> to the seclusion of <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/cambridges-moving-to-adelaide-cottage-windsor\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/cambridges-moving-to-adelaide-cottage-windsor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adelaide Cottage<\/a>, a modest <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/prince-william-life-at-adelaide-cottage\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/prince-william-life-at-adelaide-cottage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">four-bedroom home<\/a> on the Windsor Castle estate. The house has <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/royal-experts-explain-reason-prince-william-kate-middleton-dont-have-live-in-staff\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/royal-experts-explain-reason-prince-william-kate-middleton-dont-have-live-in-staff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">no room for live-in staff<\/a> and has allowed the children to play outside and enjoy a much more normal upbringing, a life the family will continue when they <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/kate-middleton-prince-william-trade-adelaide-cottage-forever-home-forest-lodge-george-charlotte-louis\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/kate-middleton-prince-william-trade-adelaide-cottage-forever-home-forest-lodge-george-charlotte-louis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">relocate to Forest Lodge<\/a>, a nearby Georgian mansion in Windsor Great Park, later this year.<\/p>\n<p>You may like<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:82.20%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3HJbHgcuvRzjBzCsn2ex98.jpg\" alt=\"Carole Middleton wearing a blue floral dress and headband holding her hand out to Prince William, dressed in a morning suit and top hat, at Royal Ascot as they laugh\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3HJbHgcuvRzjBzCsn2ex98.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3HJbHgcuvRzjBzCsn2ex98.jpg\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>The Prince of Wales gave Carole Middleton a hand when her heel got stuck in the grass at Royal Ascot 2024.<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:125.13%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/D4ZEBQcExNNbkCQqRBUMha.png\" alt=\"Prince William wearing a green sweater standing with his arms around Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a garden\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/D4ZEBQcExNNbkCQqRBUMha.png\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/D4ZEBQcExNNbkCQqRBUMha.png\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>Prince William posed with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis on Father&#8217;s Day 2025.<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Kensington Palace, Instagram\/Josh Shinner)<\/p>\n<p id=\"5d0dad99-4a13-46c8-9e3e-a973480a0f73\">Previously, royal sources have noted that the Prince of Wales looks to Carole and Michael, along with <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/james-middleton-family-prerequisite-william-marrying-kate\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/james-middleton-family-prerequisite-william-marrying-kate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">brother-in-law James<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/pippa-middleton-rare-appearance-duchess-sophie-shoe-trend\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/pippa-middleton-rare-appearance-duchess-sophie-shoe-trend\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sister-in-law Pippa<\/a>, as an example of a happy, normal unit\u2014something he didn&#8217;t get to experience growing up. &#8220;The Middletons are a traditional family, which is why William enjoyed being around them so much,&#8221; Majesty magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward told <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellomagazine.com\/royalty\/811073\/how-carole-middleton-supported-kate-middleton\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.hellomagazine.com\/royalty\/811073\/how-carole-middleton-supported-kate-middleton\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"noopener\">Hello!<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"5d0dad99-4a13-46c8-9e3e-a973480a0f73-1\">In the couple&#8217;s 2010 engagement interview, Prince William called the Middletons &#8220;really loving and caring and really fun,&#8221; adding, &#8220;I get on really well with them, and I\u2019m very lucky that they\u2019ve been so supportive.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Giving his children the opportunity to play school sports, <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/princess-kate-prince-william-mustique-vacation-details\/\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.marieclaire.com\/celebrity\/royals\/princess-kate-prince-william-mustique-vacation-details\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">go on vacations<\/a> without posing for staged press photos and take part in activities with other kids has given them the chance to grow up largely outside the spotlight. &#8220;William takes his role as father of the future King as seriously as he takes his role as future King. That\u2019s key,&#8221; royal author Robert Hardman told People, adding that the prince&#8217;s &#8220;overarching priority&#8221; is to ensure his kids &#8220;enjoy&#8221; royal life &#8220;rather than fear it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Growing up, Prince William and Prince Harry enjoyed freedoms that their father, King Charles, never could have imagined&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":378105,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7708],"tags":[5105,7710,519,448],"class_list":{"0":"post-378104","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-royals","8":"tag-royal","9":"tag-royal-families","10":"tag-royal-family","11":"tag-royals"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115101776086448345","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=378104"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378104\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/378105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=378104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=378104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=378104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}