The life of a royal rarely ever slows down. No matter how old you are, whether you’re one or 100, there are always things you should be doing for the benefit of the monarchy. Granted, those responsibilities differ depending on your age. Someone like Prince Louis wouldn’t be expected to go out hosting charity events and giving speeches. However, their hectic life begins from the moment they’re born. With the Royal Family always rushed off their feet with their various responsibilities, they frequently have to rely on the help of nannies to aid with childcare. These people are in charge of the young ones whenever their parents aren’t around and rumors say that Meghan Markle is already onto her third nanny for baby Archie.
Up for the job
It’s no easy job picking out a nanny for the Royal Family and the nannies themselves have to go through a lengthy screening process before they get to meet the Royal’s for their one to one interview. It’s important that they know that the person they choose for the role can balance discipline with rewards, and also that they’re trustworthy.
A lot of people would love to get their hands on the Royal children, or any information about the prestigious family in general. It’s vital that a nanny doesn’t let that sway them when the kids are left in their care, or at any other time.
Plenty of responsibilities
Of course, when it comes to being a royal nanny, the children only form one part of the job. The person – who so far has always been a woman – has plenty of other responsibilities to keep them busy when the kids aren’t being a handful. This includes walking the dogs, arranging meals, and ensuring that the nursery is always in a tidy condition.
All of the jobs they have to deal with justify the perks that come from being a Royal nanny, such as the generous paycheck. However, sometimes it takes more than money to continue working somewhere you don’t enjoy.
Too much to handle
Although most royal staff stay with the family until they retire, that isn’t always the case. William and Kate’s housekeeper sensationally quit in 2017, referring to her job as being “too demanding.” Considering the couple are set to be King and Queen consort one day, it’s no surprise that working for them can be quite a lot to handle.
However, no job that’s worthwhile should ever be considered easy. You have to be prepared to work hard and make sacrifices in your life if you’re going to join the royal staff. This goes double for anyone hoping to become a nanny, and it seems as though Meghan Markle could be the toughest Royal to work for to date.
Meghan’s nannies
With the list of talents that the nannies must have to work for the Royals, it seems there is another stepping stone they have to cross since baby Archie was born. Meghan Markle is already allegedly onto her third nanny for her and Prince Harry’s new baby boy. The nannies have to go through multiple screening tests before they are even able to sit for a face to face interview.
It is rumored that Meghan has previously employed two nannies however it has been said that both quit due to Meghan’s overprotective ways. With nanny number three ready to go, apparently, the Royals are left wondering if this one will stick around for longer then a few weeks.
Devoted to the job
When you get hired as a royal nanny, you have to wave goodbye to your personal life. That can be quite a difficult pill to swallow, which is why only those who are really serious about it actually land the job. If you’re devoting all your time to raising the little ones and keeping things at home in order, how are you supposed to live your own life?
It’s for this reason that royals typically pick nannies who are both single and childless. When they don’t have any prior commitments to worry about, they’re more likely to give 110% to their job.
A roof over their heads
You might think it would be hard to refrain from meeting someone and starting a family when you’re a royal nanny. However, given these people spend all their time with the little ones, going out on dates is a luxury they can’t afford. They dedicate themselves to their charges so much that they actually live with them. That’s the only way they can be around to meet their needs 24/7.
Accommodation is another perk that comes from working for the Royal Family, but does that make up for what these people miss out on? Only they can decide that.
The staff quarters
Unfortunately, while the nannies are indeed provided with somewhere to stay, it’s not necessarily the most luxurious setup. Many of these people live in the Palace, and a former member of staff revealed that the accommodation is akin to college dormitories.
They’re extremely small and basic, with the rooms holding little more than a bed, wardrobe, and sink. That’s not much considering they also have to pay for the staff quarters with a portion of their wage.
Years of experience
By the time someone is handed the responsibility of looking after a royal child, they’ve already accepted what they’ll be giving up. That’s because it takes years for a person to be fully trained for the job.
They require three years minimum before the Royal Family will even offer them an interview, and even then there are no assurances. This training is typically handled by Norland College which specializes in educating nannies for people in high society.
No time for vacations
From the outside looking in, royal nannies seem to have one of the best jobs imaginable. Not only do they get a decent wage and accommodation, but they also regularly get to travel around the world.
However, just like the royals typically go somewhere to do a job, so too do their nannies. As much as they’d probably love to enjoy their vacation, they have to watch over the children the whole time they’re there.
Perks of the job
While they might not get much time to relax, it seems the nannies do get other perks. This includes receiving gifts from the Royal Family which are on the more expensive side.
Apparently, the Royals are inundated with so many presents that they end up giving most of them away. Sometimes, these end up in the hands of the staff who are understandably grateful for such generous gifts. Who would turn down something so luxurious?
Everyone does their bit
Rather than hiring a nanny per child, couples in the Royal Family typically assign one person to all their kids. That can be a lot for someone to handle, especially when people like William and Kate have three children.
However, while their nanny – Maria Borrallo – is responsible for the youngsters, she’s not on her own. She has a team to help her out at all times, and this includes cleaners, nursemaids, chefs, and so much more.
Hands to yourself
When you’re a royal nanny, you have a lot of free reign over how you deal with the children’s behavior. However, there’s one thing that absolutely no-one is allowed to do, and that’s use physical punishments.
The Royal Family evidently doesn’t believe in using violence to teach kids about how to behave.
A passion for the job
To become a royal nanny, you first have to impress during your training. However, that can only happen if you get accepted into a prestigious school first. That’s not easy, especially when dealing with places like Norland.
Here, people have to prove their love for children by submitting an essay showcasing their dedication to being a nanny. The school isn’t going to take on anyone that cares more about the high life than caring for kids.
Experts in combat
If you’re fortunate enough to be enrolled somewhere like Norland, you can expect to receive years of intense training. The school focuses on teaching people everything they could ever need to know for their job, and then some.
Surprisingly, that includes teaching people skills like combat training, something you might not necessarily expect a nanny to know. Of course, when you work for the Royal Family, being able to protect yourself and the kids is vital.
A mother’s help
It’s so crucial that nannies be rigorously trained that Kate’s initial request for her mom to have the job was turned down. As much as the Duchess of Cambridge wanted her mother to be a regular part of her children’s lives, the Royal Family forbid it.
There was a great deal that Carole needed to learn if she was going to have the job, and there was no time for her to be trained up.
Playing outside
We live in a world where children are being raised by smartphones and tablets. However, in the Royal Family, priority is still being given to good ol’ fashioned outdoor play. Maria Borrallo apparently considers it essential that the children get plenty of fresh air, and regularly schedules sessions outside.
Even if it’s raining, the nanny ensures that the children leave the house and get some exercise. She sees their health as one of her biggest priorities.
Time to party
Although nannies might not have a personal life, that doesn’t mean they don’t get breaks every now and again. The staff regularly hold parties behind the scenes to let off some steam and enjoy themselves for once.
Given the Royals are seemingly unaware of these, we imagine organizing them must be difficult. However, we can’t blame the workers for wanting a bit of downtime every now and again. We’d say that they’ve certainly earned it.
Keeping it casual
Despite how it may appear, royal nannies aren’t actually required to wear uniforms at all times. Typically when they’re snapped by the cameras, they’re seen in beige dresses with white gloves and a bowler hat.
However, this outfit is only necessary on special occasions, with the nannies typically allowed to whatever they find most comfortable. Of course, if the Royal Family find their everyday wear to be offensive, they won’t refrain from telling them off.
Smile for the camera
One difficulty that comes from being a royal nanny is dealing with the attention of the press. Whenever the children are out in public, all eyes are most definitely them. The nannies are aware of this and have to act accordingly to ensure everything runs smoothly in front of the media.
They have to keep the children on their best behavior while also paying no mind to the cameras themselves. The photographers aren’t there for them.
It’s a secret
A lot of confidentiality is required when working for the Royal Family. There are plenty of secrets hiding in the monarchy, and bringing in someone new puts them at risk of being exposed. That’s partly why the family has to trust any new nannies they hire.
These people often learn about some of these precious secrets, and therefore, it’s vital that they keep their mouths shut. If they don’t, there will be hell to pay.
Forced into silence
To dissuade any nannies from sharing too much information about their job, the Royal Family requires them to sign a non-disclosure agreement. This prevents them from speaking out about the monarchy and sharing their secrets, especially if things between them go sour.
Considering how popular tell-all books seem to be right now, it’s an effective way of preventing scorned nannies from dishing the dirt once they’re out of a job. Not that it always works.
Digging into their past
As well as putting in years of training, prospective nannies are also expected to have a flawless background if they want to be hired by the Royal Family. The press knows how to dig up dirt from the past, so any discrepancies from years ago will likely surface somewhere down the line.
The Royals don’t want to face that kind of humiliation, which is why they run background checks before hiring nannies or other members of staff.
Communication is key
Being a royal nanny, you often spend more time around the children than their parents. As a result, you learn stuff that their mom and dad might not be aware of, meaning communication with them is key.
People like William and Kate can’t help their busy schedules, but when they get to spend time with their kids, they don’t want to do anything wrong. That’s why they rely on Maria to keep them up to date.
Swimming Lessons
As part of the extensive training that all nannies have to go through at Norland, one of the most important skills they learn is in the water. Swimming can be dangerous for children and even more so open water, in case of an accident, the nannies are trained on what to do should a child in their care ever get into trouble in or under water.
They participate in a lifeguard course that covers any accident that may happen by a pool or on the beach/in the ocean. Alongside this, they are first aid trained. These nannies really are the experts of child care and are extremely well equipped.
The importance of food
The Royal family have highly trained chefs at their beck and call, however, when out on the road, the nannies are the ones who are trusted to provide a healthy and balanced meal for the children in their care. A nutritional diet is extremely important for the Royal’s and because of this, the nannies are trained to understand everything they can about diet.
After all, these are Princesses and Princes they are looking after, it is super important that they eat the right things. One of the nannies reported that this is something that is most enjoyable when it comes to the job.
Natural
Royal etiquette is very strict when it comes to how one has to dress and where their make-up. Outfits have to be “conservative, modest and respectful” while makeup has to be natural at all times. The nannies working for the Royal family have to follow similar rules although they are less glamorous.
With set uniforms, they are also required to wear little or no make-up. Alongside this, they are also advised against wearing jewelry. A simple watch and studded earrings in allowed but nothing more than that.
Etiquette is key
The public has learned more recently how important Royal etiquette is since Meghan Markle joined the family. The world has watched her mess up a number of times when it comes to how she needs to act as a representative of the Royal family. From rules such as the length of dresses, to how they should sit to always walking behind the Queen, the list is endless and dates back decades.
Working with the upper class requires an etiquette course in its entirety. The Royal nannies take an eight-week course which will give them all the tips and tricks that they need to succeed in high society. The course teaches things such as how to address key people, how to eat properly, how to conduct body language and much more.
Free children
The Royals have been gifted with a good life, however with all the rules they have to follow from birth, it is important that the younger children are able to experience what it is like to be a kid and this is something that is encouraged by the nannies.
If the children are free and comfortable behind closed doors, then the Royals are happy. The nannies are required to play sport with them as well as activities outdoors and offer them a normal childhood away from the spotlight. Fro the sounds of it, the Royal children really do have the best upbringing.
Bilingual
We all know that kids are like sponges, they take everything on board from those closest to them. We teach them to speak, communicate and how to behave. Language is an important thing when raising children and if you so happen to be able to speak a second or multiple languages, it is easy enough to teach your children how to speak the language.
Due to this, the Royal nannies are required to speak more than one language, this is seen to be a great thing for a young Royal to learn. Spanish native Maria Borrallo is originally from Spain and sources say that both Princess Charlotte and Prince George enjoy learning it very much as well as French. Who knows, they may learn even more since Borallo can speak a total of six languages! Now that’s impressive.
An unbreakable bond
As tough as it might be to work as a royal nanny, the bond that develops between them and the children is almost always worth it. When you spend so much time with the little ones, it’s inevitable that you’ll grow to love them.
It happened with William and Harry’s nanny, Olga Powell, who formed an unbreakable bond with the kids. The former was so close to the woman that he even went to her funeral.