Kate Middleton Reveals How Her Parenting Style Differs From Prince William’s

Kate Middleton and Prince William are not only working members of the royal family, but they’re also proud parents of three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. In addition to going on state visits and attending royal dinners, the prince and princess of Wales have spent a substantial portion of their marriage raising their children. In a video that Sky News posted in May 2023, Kate compared her parenting style to her husband’s, and according to the royal, they have different strengths. 

Just days after King Charles III’s coronation, Kate and William attended a Buckingham Palace garden party, where they chatted with guests. At the gathering, Kate met Aldith Grandison and her daughter, Jay Cee La Bouche, and the three women got to talking. “I’m terrible at jokes,” Kate admitted before adding that William was “very good” in comparison. Grandison then guessed how Kate parents her children. “You’re the strict one,” Grandison speculated. Kate replied with a laugh, “I’m definitely not strict! How can you tell that? Surely not!”

Even though Kate and William’s children were born into royalty, the couple strives to give them a normal childhood while introducing them to their responsibilities as members of the royal family, according to People. “Those children look pretty happy with life,” an insider told the outlet. “A lot of it is the stabilizing normality Kate brings, and that’s how she grew up. William absolutely loves it.” Since Kate had a normal upbringing living in the village of Bucklebury with her siblings, Pippa Middleton and James Middleton, she is using her experience to shape her children's upbringing. “Coming from a different background, she appreciates the importance of having family time,” another source said. “She wasn’t brought up in that aristocratic setting where you see the children for a short time each day.”

People reports that Kate and William drive their kids to school often and make sure at least one of them is home when they return at the end of the day. The outlet also notes that Kate loves cooking for her children, whether it’s pizza or a homemade birthday cake. She also enjoys spending time with them, especially in the countryside, according to an appearance on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast. Witnesses have also spotted the royal children doing regular activities, such as accompanying Kate at the grocery store or eating snacks in the trunk of their car while their dad plays polo.

Other past royals have depended on nannies in order to fulfill their obligations as royals. For instance, when King Charles and Princess Anne were young, they could only see their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, twice a day, according to People. When William and Kate had children, Elizabeth gave them permission to prioritize raising their children above executing their duties as royals. “Royal families over the generations haven’t had the chance to get those foundations right, but they have,” a friend of the couple’s said.