Prince William And Kate Middleton's Unconventional Parenting Methods Stray From The Royals



Prince William and Kate Middleton might be two of the most recognizable faces in the world but there are two titles they value more than those that come with being royalty: mom and dad. The couple are committed to keeping their children as grounded as possible which is why they’ve made some surprising choices when it comes to parenting. Their methods may be unconventional but the crown comes with a price…

Relating To Royals


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children have been brought up in a way that veers away from tradition. Kate and William adhere to a strict system of family values but many believe their methods might be frowned upon…
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Dysfunctional Family History


The Duke and Duchess are hands-on parents – another characteristic which sets them a part from tradition. Queen Victoria was said to be a distant mother, there were many recorded stories of her neglecting her children to be loved and attended to by royal staff. Despite having had nine children, she wasn’t a maternal character, she was once heard stating “An ugly baby is a very nasty object.” Queen Victoria chose to uphold her royal duties over the role of motherhood.
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Adapting With Time


As the generations rolled on, the royals were forced to adapt to the times and reflect more contemporary parenting methods. Although Prince Charles’ childhood displayed somewhat of a distant and sometimes cold relationship with his parents, it was nothing like the strained parental relationships of his ancestors. Prince Charles’ relationships with his two sons, William and Harry, veered away from tradition entirely, this was owed to one unforgettable person…
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Doting Diana


Princess Diana was never one to shy away from unconventional behavior. The Princess was known and loved for her warmth, affectionate nature and infinite kindness. When Diana married Charles, it was evident that she would not adhere to the strict, traditional guidelines that were expected of her. Diana’s first big decision was to raise her little boys herself, insisting on being a present figure in their day-to-day lives.
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A Mother’s Love


Prince William and Harry both admired and deeply respected their mother’s parenting approach. Harry stated “My mother cherished the moments of privacy and being a mother, rather than the Princess of Wales.” Diana would often take the boys to the supermarket and to the movies in secret, giving them a taste of normality beyond the confines of the palace. Prince Harry further admitted, “She smothered us with love.”
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The New Royals


Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship began at University. Just like his mother, William broke away from royal convention, and chose to follow his heart. He was not concerned with Catherine’s title or standing in society, he fell in love with her for her grace, beauty, kindness and generous warmth, which reminded him of his late mother. The world watched as their fairytale unfolded.
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A Royal Baby


Mere days after their royal wedding, the media and public began to speculate as to when a pregnancy announcement would be made. When the news finally came in 2012, more speculation ensued about what kind of parents the royal couple would be. Would they take the hands on approach of Diana or the stiff, traditional way of Charles? Prince George was born on July 22nd 2013 at the St Mary’s Hospital in London. Millions waited to catch a glimpse of the royal baby.
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Baby Number Two


Kate and William took to parenting swiftly and were doting parents to their little Prince. The adorable Princess Charlotte was born two years later and was met with the same loving reception. George recently started school and was walked to the threshhold hand-in-hand by his father. When they revealed in September 2017 that they were expecting their third child, it was clear the royal family were playing by their own rules, would this cause controversy the way Diana did?
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Middleton Family Life


William may have grown up as a royal but his mother instilled in him a sense of grounding normality and humility. Diana loved all people, no matter their religion, race, gender or nationality. William and Kate were sure to offer their own children the same understanding of the world.
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An Open Book


Kate revealed that during her pregnancies, she suffered from an extreme, rare form of morning sickness called Hyperemesis gravidum. She hoped giving voice to the issue would offer other expecting mothers empathy and support. This was not the only intimate glimpse the loving royal couple gave into their personal life.
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William’s Worries


In 2016, Prince William spoke candidly to a talk show in Vietnam during a royal tour. He admitted that his journey to fatherhood has not been an easy one, “I’ve struggled at times.” He continued in explaining that “The alteration from being a single, independent man to going into marriage and then having children is life-changing.” William also had to balance being a father, a Prince and British Royal Air Force Pilot. He later gave up his military duties to focus on his family and royal obligations.
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Learning From Mistakes


Prince William is said to be extremely cautious with how he brings up his children and what they believe they owe to the British public. After Princess Diana tragically died in a devastating car crash in 1997, William and Harry were both expected to adopt a strong and resilient attitude towards their mother’s death, despite their young age. William admitted that the media was the reason he was so fiercely protective of his own family.
LON62:DIANA:LONDON,6SEP97 - Prince Charles (R), Prince Harry (C) and Prince William look at the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales, after it was placed into a hearse September 6. Hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the streets of Central London to watch the funeral procession. The Princess died last week in a car crash in Paris. me/Photo by Jeff J Mitchell REUTERS
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Ups And Downs


Kate has also spoken out about her own parenting battles. She attended a mental health event in March 2017, explaining that on occasion she had felt a “lack of confidence” in parenting her young children. The Duchess did state that “becoming a mother has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience,” but later admitted that “However, at times it has also been a huge challenge. Even for me, who has support at home that most mothers do not.”
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A Real Perspective


Kate and William’s desire to give a real and authentic perspective to other new parents going through similar struggles has been welcomed by so many. Traditionally, royals have developed a ‘stiff upper lip’ approach and viewed expressing emotion as a disconcerting sign of weakness. Both Kate and William are overtly emotional people, who continue to display compassion for those around them.
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Brutally Honest


Kate, William and Harry convened in 2017 to discuss issues around mental health. The Prince bravely admitted that he had sought counseling to cope with the death of his mother. Harry said that he was not given a chance to grieve as a young boy which he believed had severely affected him in the years to come.
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Close Family


Together, the three Royals formed Heads Together charity. The organization aims to minimize the stigma and taboo surrounding mental health. They are committed to encouraging young people to discussing mental health issues without shame. Kate and William strived to adopt this open-minded approach in the privacy of their home while raising their children. They did not want their young children suffering in silence, something other royal family members had failed to do.
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Supportive Parents


In April 2017, William told CALMzine, “Catherine and I are clear that we want both George and Charlotte to grow up feeling able to talk about their emotions and feelings.” He continued, “Over the past year we have visited a number of schools together where we have been amazed listening to children talk about some quite difficult subjects in a clear and emotionally articulate way, something most adults would struggle with.”
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Hope For The Future


William is particularly passionate about the cause. He went on to say “Seeing this has really given me hope things are changing and there is a generation coming up who find it normal to talk openly about emotions.” Soon after their open comments, new information was uncovered about the family which made some question whether the royal parents were doing the right thing.
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Technology Banned


It was revealed that Kate and William had banned all technology in their home including phones, iPads and computers. The royal couple did not want their children to have any access to the internet tabloids, believing access to the internet would only negatively affect them. William and Kate wanted to emphasize the importance of being outside and playing sports, adopting mindfulness and real engagement with people rather than mindlessly surfing the internet.
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Advanced Prince And Princess


Many people have questioned the royal couple’s decision to deprive their children of technology, but their choice was backed up by some sturdy scientific research which may have encouraged other parents to do the same. In the study involving young children playing on iPads, a 29% increased risk of a speech delay was recorded for those who had a 30-minute increase in daily screen time.
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Online Dangers


The decision was also made with the issue of security in mind. The increased use of internet also meant an increase in online dangers with hackers taking the opportunity to gain confidential information from users. Widespread accessibility has made the internet unsafe,especially for Prince George and Princess Charlotte, whose faces are recognized worldwide. Kate and William have chosen to act as responsible parents who care about their children’s privacy and online safety.
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Internet Intrusion


William spoke about how the lack of technology in his childhood home following Diana’s death allowed the young Princes to grieve in peace, something that he is thankful for. He said “Back then, obviously, there were no smartphones or anything like that, so you couldn’t get your news, and thankfully at the time, to be honest, we had the privacy to mourn and collect our thoughts and to have that space away from everybody.”
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Royal Hacking


The Royal family is one of the most illustrious families in the world but he Royals are not without their scandals. In 2014, it was uncovered that British tabloid newspaper The News Of The World had hacked Kate Middleton’s, Prince William’s and Prince Harry’s phones more than 200 times, uncovering intimate details about their private lives.
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Practicing What They Preach


Studies have also shown a distinct correlation between depression and the use of social media platforms. Social media users are overstimulated and bombarded with images that convey unrealistic standards of beauty, for both men and women. In addition, looking at screens for too long can cause sleep disorders, mood swings and addiction.
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Like-Minded Parents


The Duke and Duchess are not the only famous parents who have chosen to protect their children from the potential dangers of the internet. In 2014, it was surprisingly reported that the late founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, had encouraged his children to stay away from technology as much as they can. While many people were shocked that the creator of one of the biggest tech companies in the world would advise his children against tech use, there are few men who knew the darkness of such technology better than Jobs himself.
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Privacy First


Kate and William can be commended for their commitment to balancing their private lives while also welcoming the public into their lives. Kate and William do not have social media accounts but they have allowed the palace to post their family photos. The young royals understand their responsibility to the public but do not let the pressure encourage their personal decisions regarding the wellbeing of their children.
Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive in Victoria, British Columbia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
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A Positive Outcome


The decision to remove technology from the household may seem to some as an overreaction, but there are numerous reasons this decision could protect their children in many ways. Not only are George and Charlotte young children but they are also third and fourth in line to the throne, making them increasingly prominent and at risk of online hacking.
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Bundle Of Joy


Now that Prince Louis has arrived, the royal couple are inspired more than ever to keep up their efforts in raising awareness about mental health and continuing to raise their children with compassion, empathy and love.