Kate Middleton and Prince William’s parenting style is reminiscent of Princess Diana’s ‘balanced’ approach claims royal expert
"I think they’ve done brilliantly with all their children"


Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
Thank you for signing up to GoodTo. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
A royal expert who knew Princess Diana has pointed out the similarities between the late Princess Diana and Kate Middleton and Prince William's parenting styles.
- Kate Middleton and Prince William's parenting style takes after Princess Diana's 'balanced' approach, a royal expert who knew Princess Diana has claimed.
- The expert pointed out that Kate and William, like Diana used to do, ensure that their children have both 'work days and play days' so they can 'balance' being a royal with being a child.
- In other royal news, The best parenting rules we’ve learnt from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Kate Middleton and Prince William's parenting skills have been under the public spotlight more than ever over these past two years; first with the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations where Kate was praised for how 'comfortable' Prince Louis felt in showing off his true emotions in public, then with the Queen's state funeral where her parenting showed 'how confident and intuitive she is as a mother,' and most recently with King Charles III's Coronation, with both Kate and William's 'realistic' parenting preventing Prince Louis having a mini-meltdown.
Their parenting style has been influenced by a myriad of factors, perhaps least by royal protocol which the couple have showed they are happy to deviate from. Kate's interest in early childhood development has reportedly taught the pair a ‘radical new way of parenting,’ the 'mistakes' William's father made in his own childhood have influenced how he's bringing up his children, and the pair also take inspiration from Kate's own parents' '‘down-to-earth’ parenting style.
And, while King Charles likely doesn't approve of it as he also doesn't agree with not giving Prince George 'special treatment,' the Prince and Princess of Wales have also taken on the 'balanced' parenting approach of William's late mother Princess Diana, who passed away in 1997.
Speaking about the couple's approach to parenting, royal expert Jennie Bond, who knew William's mother Princess Diana, told OK! Magazine, "I think they’ve done brilliantly with all their children. It makes me think of some of my conversations with William’s mother, Diana.
"I remember her telling me that she was adamant that she would give them work days and play days. On work days, William and Harry knew that they had to be like royal princes, and they had to dress like a prince and behave like a prince and be on show like a prince — but on play days, they could put on their jeans and baseball caps and go and eat a burger and drive a go-kart crazily around a track.
"Diana thought deep down that it was really important to give them that balance. I think that William and Catherine have done the same with their children. Particularly with George. He has been gradually exposed to the banks of cameras and the publicity and I think they have struck a very good balance with it."
The expert's comments follow the major shake up of the royal line of succession that has seen the Wales children, Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, move up into second, third and fourth in line to the throne respectively.
With the pressure that comes with such responsibility at those young ages, the success of William and Kate's gentle parenting approach that's been praised by parenting experts can be seen in the kids' impeccable public behaviour and their individual personalities that shine through during public engagements.
At just eight-years-old, Princess Charlotte is already ‘becoming a standout star’ of the Royal Family and, although she reportedly 'knows George is different to her and Louis', the so-called 'spare' doesn't feel less-than her brother as her parents are prioritising 'family time' over royal engagements and not giving Prince George any 'special treatment.'
Similarly, Prince Louis has been described as showing 'typical third child behaviour' who has a higher confidence and a 'bolder personality' than his siblings despite being the youngest.
Speaking about Prince George's behaviour in particular during last month's Easter celebrations, Jennie Bond told OK! Magazine, "On Easter Sunday, we saw what looked like a pretty confident young man — I suppose we could almost call him now. I think we saw the evolution of a competent young prince. I hope so, because it’s a tough role he’s got — privileged, but tough."
Goodto Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse is royal news and entertainment writer for Goodto.com. She began her freelance journalism career after graduating from Nottingham Trent University with an MA in Magazine Journalism, receiving an NCTJ diploma, and earning a First Class BA (Hons) in Journalism at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute. She has also worked with BBC Good Food and The Independent.
-
-
Are mobile phones being banned in schools in England? Here's what the Department for Education has said, plus a parenting expert's verdict
New guidance recommends a ban on mobile phone use in schools.
By Ellie Hutchings Published
-
King Charles reveals his hopes that granddaughter Princess Charlotte will ‘look after him’ when he is ‘very old’
The monarch was 'thrilled' when his granddaughter was born
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Prince William reveals his mother Princess Diana would send him the ‘rudest’ gifts when he was at boarding school
He said the presents were 'very embarrassing'
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Prince William once broke this important royal rule when he was a page boy, and we didn't know it was a thing
The Prince of Wales didn't appear to get the memo when it came to this royal etiquette rule
By Selina Maycock Published
-
Prince William and Harry’s first baby meals revealed by royal chef, and they’re so easy to make at home (ready in 3 minutes!)
Baby meals fit for a future king and perfect for your child too
By Selina Maycock Published
-
Kate Middleton was left with ‘very little confidence’ after childhood bullies ‘picked on her’ for ‘being perfect’
“She was not the type to stick up for herself”
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Kate Middleton reveals Princess Charlotte has nailed this tricky skill - and she used to be able to do it too
We’re impressed!
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Prince William ‘wants the world to see’ his hands-on parenting style after rumours of royal duties coming before royal children
"He wants to show a close bond to the world"
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Kate Middleton is skipping this important royal engagement and all parents will understand why
The Princess of Wales has not joined her husband in New York
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Prince William reveals the clever way Princess Diana would ease his ‘anxiety’ over ‘going back to school’
"It felt like a real family moment"
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published