Prince William and Kate Middleton are busy people right now, once can assume. Besides their royal duties, they’re endeavoring to raise their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and the youngest, Prince Louis, in the best way possible.
At the same time as their children’s lives, will most likely include royal engagements for many years, William and Kate are by all accounts aiming to bring up their children as “normal” as possible. Not only does that include how they live, but also how they little ones are treated.
Now, it should go without saying that George, Charlotte, and Louis are receiving the very best care from their parents and the serving staff working at their house. However, it’s been said all three – as with any young children – can act out at times, and because of that, William and Kate have set some strict rules at home the children must follow.
Prince William and Kate Middleton have their hands full raising their three children. Since George, Charlotte, and Louis are now growing up, it makes sense to assume that they’re finding that they have passions in life that don’t necessarily align with royal life.
Moreover, at the end of the day they’re just children, and so they have interests and hobbies that come with the territory. Kate has always been a promoter of healthy living and exercise, which has reportedly had an impact on her children.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte & Prince Louis’ athletic interest
Like his mother, George enjoys playing tennis – his interest in the sport is said to have developed at a very early age.
“He’s got a racket and he enjoys playing tennis, and obviously she plays with William, so they obviously enjoy the sport very much,” mom Kate said back in 2016.
The young royal is a big tennis fan, and was seen in the stands alongside his mother and father during last year’s Wimbledon tournament.
What’s more, Prince George has even received a private lesson from tennis legend Roger Federer. The Swiss tennis icon confirmed that he had visited George at the home of Kate’s parents – Carole and Michael Middleton. And it turns out that the young prince had excellent technique.
“At that stage, it’s all about just touch the ball, it’s already good. Same with my boys. I think I have a little advantage that I actually spent some time, you know, with him,” Federer said.
“I’m the only player he’s ever met. Then you have a little head start in who is your favorite player.”
According to Hello Magazine, Prince George has been taking tennis lessons since he was five.
Prince Charlotte’s gymnastic talents
In fact, William and Kate actually have their own court at their country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk. So who knows, perhaps George is a future Wimbledon champion in the making?
But the second heir to the throne is not the only child in his family that enjoys being active. For years, William could be heard telling how his daughter Charlotte enjoyed playing soccer, but her favorite activity of late is something different.
Last year, Charlotte joined her parents at the Commonwealth Games. Shortly after, they visited a charity, SportsAid House, of which Kate has been a patron since 2013. Its chief executive, Tim Lawler, later revealed what Charlotte’s favorite sport is.
“She really, really loved seeing the swimming, but she’s interested in the gymnastics, and while they’re trying lots of different sports at home, I understand, when I asked her about sport, she answered very easily and said, ‘It’s gymnastics that I like,’ “Lawler said.
In 2020, Kate spoke about her daughter’s interest in gymnastics.
“Charlotte is really into gymnastics, she’s doing cartwheels, handstands, everything,” the Princess of Wales said. “It’s so good for their basic skills of balance and coordination.”
Prince William & Kate Middleton – parenting techniques
Prince William added: “And their flexibility, it’s really good for their long-term health, isn’t it? We went to watch the Cirque du Soleil recently, it was amazing.”
If Charlotte pursued a career in gymnastics, it wouldn’t be the first time a royal member had been engaged in professional sports. William’s cousin, Zara Tindall, competed for the British Equestrian Team at the 2012 London Olympics, where she won a silver medal in the team event.
Naturally, while William and Kate Middleton are doing their utmost to raise their kids to become good people, the royal side of their lives will likely take center stage more and more as the years go by. That includes the learning of various royal traditions and the expected ways to behave in public. As we all know at this point, the royals have specific customs and ways of acting, which George, Charlotte, and Louis will be expected to grow into.
At the same time, as we’ve stressed, the three children are just that: children. They, just like other kids, are not always going to listen to their parents. William and Kate, of course, must respond in kind.
As per reports, the royal parents have their ways of handling their kids if they are not behaving as they should. According to an insider, the couple decided to ban the “naughty step” in their home. Instead, they use a “chat sofa” for George, Charlotte, and Louis.
“Shouting is absolutely off limits”
What’s more, reports suggest that Prince William and Kate Middleton “never shout” at their children.
“The naughty child is taken away from the scene of the row or disruption and talked to calmly by either Kate or William,” the royal source said. “Things are explained and consequences outlined, and they never shout at them.”
The insider added: “Shouting is absolutely off limits for the children, and any hint of shouting at each other is dealt with by removal.”
While the couple don’t shout at their kids, the aforementioned royal source added that Kate is “slightly stricter” than William. Ever since George was a baby, the couple has had the help of a nanny, Maria Borrallo, trained at the prestigious Norland College in Bath.
She makes all the decisions at home regarding the children, in keeping with William and Kate’s outlined wishes.
The source said: “Maria is firm, but she never acts unilaterally with the children on discipline. Kate and William, along with Maria, are strict with the children but have this magic ability to appear not to be.”
“It is a military operation, but you would never guess it because they work ferociously hard on their children’s upbringing and make it seem relaxed and happy for the three of them,” the insider continued.
“They are very good at listening to the children but being firm.”
George, Charlotte & Louis praised for their behavior in public
Though there are bound to be occasions when George, Charlotte, and Louis aren’t on their best behavior, the children have been praised for their conduct while out on royal engagements with their parents.
For example, when the family visits the exclusive athletic club, Hurlingham Club in Fulham, London, one member told how George, Charlotte, and Louis always behave “impeccably.”
“The family often dine there al fresco and use the club’s sporting and play facilities,” a member explained. “There is no tantrums or food throwing, and the children eat what is set before them.
“They queue up with the rest of the kids and parents in the Harness Room restaurant and ask for no special favours.”
Of course, some activities at home can be more challenging than others, which William has had to learn the hard way. When appearing in a video meeting with chef Charlie Farrally from the Scottish charity Peek Project, the Prince of Wales revealed that dinners could be tricky.
How well the family meal goes can “depend on what’s on the table,” William said.
“If parents put something on that children love, dinner time goes on very well,” he added. “But if you put something on the table, they don’t want to do, that’s another ball game.”
It certainly seems as though William and Kate have done a great job raising their three children. But while they’re aiming to keep their lives as normal as possible – and not too public – another family member recently revealed several things about the royal kids.
Harry’s words on George in his ‘Sparee’ book
In his tell-all memoir Spare, Harry decided to give the world insight into his relation to William and Kate’s children.
When he appeared at an event in 2013, Harry was asked about his newborn nephew, George, and how he felt about becoming an uncle.
“When I saw him [Prince George] he was crying as all babies do, but it’s fantastic to have a new member of the family. I hope my brother knows how expensive my babysitting charges will be,” Harry explained.
A reporter asked him what his primary duties as an uncle would be, to which Harry replied: “To make sure he has a good upbringing, to keep him out of harm’s way and make sure he has fun. The rest of it I leave up to the parents.”
Two years later, William and Kate welcomed Princess Charlotte. That entailed Harry becoming an uncle for the second time – though, at that time, he was further from home than he perhaps would have wanted.
“I went to Australia for a round of military exercises, and while there, I got word: Willy and Kate had welcomed their second child. Charlotte. I was an uncle again and very happy about it,” he wrote in Spare.
When George was born, William and Kate needed more space. That meant moving into Kensington Palace. Harry, meanwhile, moved into Nottingham Cottage, just across the road from his brother’s new home.
It didn’t take long before he felt something was wrong. In his book, the Duke explained how he was pleased about moving into Nottingham Cottage, within walking distance of Kensington Palace. Or, as he described it, “half a football pitch away” from his house, where he also could hear William and Kate’s nanny go past with the stroller at all hours.
Harry fears Charlotte & Louis will “end up” like him
He said it was “nice to get out of the old place, but even better to live in front of Willy and Kate,” and he “could see myself dropping in to see them all the time.”
Harry dreamed about popping into William and Kate’s, hanging out with George, and “throwing himself on the floor” to wrestle with his nephew.
The reality, according to Harry, was completely different.
“I took it for granted that I would be invited to their house at any moment. But the days went by, and it didn’t happen,” he explains. “I understand, I thought. They’re busy! Building a family! Or maybe… three’s a crowd. Maybe if I get married things will change.”
But it did not end there. Moreover, he revealed that Princess Charlotte had broken down in tears before Meghan’s wedding. Some critics argued that in doing so, Harry violated his niece Charlotte’s privacy.
In an interview with The Telegraph to promote his book, Harry again opted to talk about William and Kate’s three children.
He admitted that he genuinely fears that his niece and nephew – Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – will ultimately “end up” just like him.
“Though William and I have talked about it once or twice, and he has made it very clear to me that his kids are not my responsibility, I still feel a responsibility knowing that out of those three children, at least one will end up like me, the spare,” Harry said.
“It is none of Harry’s business”
“And that hurts, that worries me.”
Harry continued: “I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy, I was summoned to provide backup, distraction, diversion and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney, perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow. This was all made explicitly clear to me from the start of life’s journey and regularly reinforced thereafter.”
As per the line of succession, Prince William will ascend the throne after King Charles, with Kate Middleton then becoming Queen Consort. After William, the crown will pass to Prince George, though if something should happen to him, his siblings, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, are next in line.
Spare marks the first time Harry has spoken so freely about William and Kate’s children. After his comments, royal author Ingrid Seward warned him against further discussing them.
“Harry should lay off Prince William’s children. In fact, he should lay off everybody and button it now,” she told The Sun. “It is a very dangerous road to go down, to start talking about other people’s children.”
She added: “And what he says Prince William said to him is absolutely right – they are William’s responsibility and not his, so he should keep out of it.
“It is none of Harry’s business. But Harry has become dangerous to his family, and to himself, because he can lob in his little asides whenever he wants.”