The Prince and Princess of Wales have long prioritised giving Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as normal an upbringing as possible. However, as their children grow older, the royal couple are becoming increasingly aware of the public roles they may one day take on as members of the royal family.
Speaking exclusively to HELLO!, Robert Jobson, author of The Windsor Legacy, explained that William and Kate recognise the important role their children will play in the future of the monarchy, while remaining protective of them as they gradually become more visible in public.
"The children are the future royal family, so William and Kate accept that they need to be seen in public sometimes," the author told HELLO!.
"The reality is that they're still very protective of them, but in certain situations it works, and I think this worked really well. It's also good for the kids without overwhelming them.
Preparing the children for royal duty
While William and Kate carefully manage their children's public appearances to avoid overwhelming them, recent outings have offered a glimpse at how they are gradually introducing George, Charlotte and Louis to royal life.
© Getty ImagesSitting alongside members of the public and enjoying events as a family allows the children to become accustomed to the attention that comes with their roles without placing too much pressure on them.
"They're very natural when they're out – they sat among the crowd and weren't given special treatment," Robert added. "They know they get privileges and I'm sure they're told that it's a great honour for them to meet these athletes."
© Getty ImagesSpeaking about eight-year-old Louis, the author continued: "Louis is a character, there's no doubt about that. The public love him and its nice to see all three of them together."
The Middleton family influence
With the Princess of Wales, William has created the secure and affectionate family life he has long wanted for his own children, with their bond becoming even stronger in recent years following the Princess's cancer diagnosis.
© The Prince and Princess of WalesTheir approach to family life appears to have been influenced by the Middletons, with an emphasis on spending quality time together and encouraging a close relationship between George, Charlotte and Louis that William and Kate hope will continue as they grow older.
That close-knit family dynamic was clear earlier this year when William, Kate and their children were joined by Michael, Carole and James Middleton for a family outing at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), offering a rare glimpse of the two generations spending time together away from royal duties.
