It seems like only yesterday Prince George was introduced to the world. Swaddled in his mother’s arms as she posed on the steps of the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London, just one day after he was born, the newest member of the royal family had no inkling of the future that lay ahead.
His life had been prescribed from the moment he was born – destined to one day be King. But his besotted new parents promised from day one to strike a balance between their intense public-facing duties and their efforts to raise a happy family.
Doing their utmost to support George as he navigates the ins and outs of his daunting future role, the Prince and Princess of Wales have strived to give him as ‘normal’ an upbringing as possible, allowing him to share in many of the same interests as other young boys his age.
In doing so, the couple have come up with a number of ways to keep the second-in-line to the throne grounded. Speaking to OK!, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has explained five of the key ways they've achieved this.
1. Having the same nanny since he was a baby
When George was eight months old, the couple hired Norland-trained nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. Jennie feels her influence on the young royal has been essential to shaping the young man he has become.
“However much William and Catherine want to be hands-on parents, their jobs mean they can’t be there for their children all the time so they’ve had to rely on nannies to a certain extent.
"I think it’s really important that George has had one constant in his life since he was eight months old: his nanny. She comes from the old school type of nannying, Norland College, and when you see her in her uniform, she does look a bit like Mary Poppins.
"She is said to be quite firm with the children, but also adores them and has a very soft side to her. And she doesn’t always wear the uniform, just on formal occasions."
2. Treating their three children the same
While George is in line for a far more senior royal role than his siblings, Jennie explains how Kate and William will be raising their three children exactly the same.
The expert says: “I think that in any family, you treat your kids much the same. Generally, the youngest gets a bit more favour to the eldest who generally has to get on with it. Just because George is going to be King at a much, much later date, I don't think that will make any difference at all to the dynamics of family life.
"I think they would allow their children to just be kids and let them fool around over the breakfast table or dance around the kitchen. So I think in the domestic arena, they would be treated absolutely equally.
"But there is the slightly different situation that they will have had to explain to Charlotte and Louis that George does go first, George walks in front, George has a bigger role at the Coronation and George does this that you don't do, so I suppose they will gently have explained it.”
3. Kate's passion for early years development
Kate has become a leading voice in the field of early years development and likely incorporates some of what she has learnt into how she and William are raising their three children.
Speaking about how the Princess's research will benefit George's future role, Jennie says: “I think George, Charlotte and Louis are lucky to have the parents they have.
"To have Catherine as their mum means they have someone in their life who is so heavily invested in the theory of early development and has clearly read and studied a great deal. This is very helpful, nurturing and important for her children.
"I think young mothers today do so much more reading than people of my generation did. We perhaps had one book about how to bring up a child, but you just kind of got on with it. But now there is so much theory attached to it, and I think that's probably all to the good."
The Middleton family's close bond
The Middleton family are constantly praised for the role they have played in supporting the Wales family – from warmly welcoming William into the fold to be a loving support system for their young grandchildren.
Jennie tells us: "I think they're lucky to have Catherine’s whole tight-knit family network around them – to see Granny and Grandpa Middleton in such a happy marriage must be a lovely thing to have."
Speaking specifically about the influence the Middleton family will play for George in the future, Jennie adds: "I think he's a lucky boy, and they will do everything they can to bring up this little boy who has such a very strange destiny ahead of him, who, like his dad and like his grandfather, will not have a choice in life.
"As well as other key family members, I think William and Catherine will do a very good job of making sure George comes out as balanced and confident and happy as possible.”
Normal family outings and traditions
Kate has admitted that she loves to make her children's birthday cakes the night before their special day but always ends up “with ridiculous amounts of cake mix and icing”. As well as this, Jennie predicts that the family will have an altogether normal celebration on the cards.
She explains: "George is lucky because his birthday is in the school holidays. And at a time of year when the busy 'season' is winding down for summer. So it’s generally a bit easier for his parents to clear the decks and devote the day to George. I expect they will be in Norfolk, romping around the gardens at Anmer Hall-or maybe going to the beach.
"They’ve always spoken about trying to give the children as normal an upbringing as possible. The royal family have a tradition of not being too extravagant with presents.
"But I’m sure like every other parent they will want to give George a treat on his birthday, but nothing overly showy that would set him apart from his peers. I reckon a battery operated child’s car, or go kart might be on the money."
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