As the Prince of Wales, Prince William’s father was dependent on a large staff, which included five house managers, four cooks, a butler, three valets, dressers, and four helpers.
However, there is no way that the modern Prince and Princess of Wales’s household could be more different from the King’s.
After school, William and Kate would rather raise their children by themselves, although they might hire help during the day to help with their hectic schedules.
Getting George, Charlotte, and Louis to help with the housework is part of that. An insider revealed a little insight into the world beyond the royal curtain, saying, “I think it would surprise people to see how ordinary things are at home.”
‘The children help with laying the table, clearing their plates when they’ve finished eating and helping with tidying up. There’s no preferential treatment.’
The royal couple decided two years ago that Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, the family’s former live-in nanny, would not relocate with them when they moved to Windsor from Kensington Palace.
It has come to light during the princess’s cancer treatment and recovery that Kate is adamant about keeping her children’s home lives intact and trying to keep things as “normal” as possible for them—rather than turning to hiring more help.
Consequently, the kids have not received any preferential treatment and are expected to continue working around the house.
Adelaide Cottage is a four-bedroom country bolthole where they spend their evenings together, sharing the cooking duties among themselves.
The source said: ‘Catherine is very, very natural. She keeps the family down to earth.
‘Home is a safe haven. In a bid to keep things functioning as smoothly as possible, she has been keen for everything to carry on as normal for the children.’ The source added: ‘The children are still expected to do their chores and to muck in at home.’
The way the princess raises her children is a reflection of her own upbringing, which differs greatly from that of her husband William, who spent many mealtimes as a child with nannies.
The couple has a repertoire of dishes they enjoy cooking – from curries to teriyaki salmon – and when some help is required Kate can turn to her mother Carole for assistance.
The source added: ‘She has a lovely supportive family to turn to, which helps. But she wants to show her children the importance of being grounded and in touch with people.’
In the meantime, the King is posting job openings for two more chefs to work for the royal family at Buckingham Palace and other royal residences throughout the year.
It must be difficult to adjust to normal life when raised in a household of servants, but at least they can relax and have more privacy. It is also great that they can provide their kids with some normalcy, and it appears that William enjoys spending time with his kids outside of the stuffy and formal royal ways.
Of course, William didn’t choose to be born into a Royal Family, even though it has huge benefits, but on the other side of the coin, I’m sure he also enjoys the middle-class family benefits as well, and the comparison was no contest to him.
Neither William nor Harry chose to be born into a Royal lifestyle, and both have chosen to live their lives differently, as is their right and choice to do so.
Although I acknowledge that the Monarchy needs some upgrading, I think William and Kate will modernise it after King Charles passes away. Unlike 1824, we live in 2024!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 