The Princess Diana Method: royal expert told how Kate Middleton and Prince William raise children

The Princess Diana Method: royal expert told how Kate Middleton and Prince William raise children

The children of 39-year-old Kate Middleton and Prince William are much more likely to be seen friendly and smiling than capricious, and this is the merit of their parents. For members of the royal family, qualities such as restraint and appreciation are extremely important, so they bring them up in their heirs from birth.

According to royal expert Andrew Morton, raising eight-year-old Prince George, six-year-old Princess Charlotte and three-year-old Prince Louis, the Dukes of Cambridge are guided by the "Princess Diana method". She inspired her own children, William and Harry, to write thank-you notes to those who helped them.

Diana often took her sons to charity events and on trips, as she wanted them to live an ordinary life, without the restrictions that royal protocol implies.

One of the reasons was that she didn't want the boys to grow up thinking that the whole world was "range Rovers", guns and babysitters,

- told her biographer Andrew Morton.

Kate and William also want a normal life for their children (as far as possible, given their royal status).

Kate and William have developed this wonderful ability to let many things seem spontaneous, and that's how their children see it. Rules of behavior at the table, thank-you letters, nice pleasantries — all this is explained to them so that they do it automatically,

he added.

Ken Wharf, a former security officer of the royal family, said that he remembered very much the case thanks to which Princess Diana taught her sons to write thank-you letters. One day she was traveling with Harry and William on a bus in London, and he accompanied them. Using public transport was the desire of Prince Harry, who wanted to spend the day as a simple person.

The bus driver was a Sikh (a representative of the people who live in India. - Ed.). After announcing the name of each stop, he pronounced the sounds "parp, parp, ring, ring". When it was time for the royals to leave, Harry turned to the driver and mimicked him, repeating the same sounds. The younger son's act made Princess Diana very angry, and she forced Harry to apologize to the driver, who, however, was not offended by the young prince and found the incident funny.

Wharf added that the next day he found a letter from Harry on his desk, in which he thanked him for spending the day like an ordinary person. However, Harry grew up such a prankster that he signed a note "parp, parp, ring, ring".

More in the section Celebrity

Celebrity

Lisa Rinna's Kylie Jenner Halloween costume fooled Kylie herself

Lisa Rinna, 63, transformed into a 29-year-old Kylie Jenner on Live with Kelly and Mark's Halloween episode, and Kylie replied: "Thought this was me."

Celebrity

Katie Holmes and Jason Bard Yarmosky hold hands at ballet gala in NYC

The 47-year-old and her artist boyfriend enjoyed a glamorous date night at the American Ballet Theatre fall gala at Lincoln Center.

Celebrity

Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato recreate Princess Protection Program poster for Rare Beauty

The former BFFs reunited 16 years after their Disney movie to drop a blush bundle and re-shoot the iconic poster in gowns and tiaras.

Celebrity

Kim Kardashian calls co-parenting with Kanye West a 'big burden': 'I worry all day'

Kim Kardashian opens up in her new authorized biography about the 'big burden' of co-parenting with ex Kanye West, admitting she worries about him 'all day.'

Celebrity

Zendaya cheered courtside as the Valkyries took a 3–2 WNBA Finals lead

Zendaya cheered courtside for the Golden State Valkyries as they beat the Atlanta Dream 64–55 to take a 3–2 WNBA Finals lead.

Celebrity

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce cut a $7M carousel and a pond from their wedding

New details reveal the couple cut a two-tiered carousel and a man-made pond from their $30M Madison Square Garden nuptials.

Celebrity

Lewis Hamilton talks bonding with Kim Kardashian's four kids and the dog he got them

The F1 driver made a rare comment about life with Kim Kardashian’s four children ahead of the Austin Grand Prix.

Celebrity

Prince William jokes he tried to shove Travis Kelce out of his Taylor Swift selfie

The Prince of Wales revealed he kept trying to move the Chiefs star out of his viral Eras Tour photo with Swift and his kids.

Celebrity

Pat McAfee’s first acting role came with secret coaching from Bradley Cooper and Tom Cruise

The ESPN star makes his movie debut as a Marines drill instructor in Peter Berg’s The Mosquito Bowl after catching Hollywood’s eye on College GameDay.

Celebrity

Jenna Ortega fronts Vogue’s November 2026 cover in a white satin Dior slip dress

Jenna Ortega is Vogue’s November 2026 cover star, photographed barefoot in a white satin Dior slip dress by Szilveszter Makó.

Celebrity

Lisa Rinna's Kylie Jenner Halloween costume fooled Kylie herself

Food

Pizza-stuffed pumpkins: Pillsbury biscuits, ricotta and a kitchen-twine trick

Sport

Leclerc sweeps Mexico City practice as Hamilton's Ferrari breaks down mid-lap

Entertainment

Taylor Swift's 'I Knew It, I Knew You' tops the movie songs chart for a fourth month

Lifestyle

Dua Lipa brings back the statement hat in a feathered Chanel couture look

Travel

United quits Mexico's Tulum airport in January and adds 2 Virginia routes from SFO

Celebrity

Katie Holmes and Jason Bard Yarmosky hold hands at ballet gala in NYC

Food

Burger King's fried apple pie beats McDonald's in taste test

Sport

Jaylen Brown told Daniel Radcliffe why NBA awards can never make a player happy

Entertainment

James Gunn says Harley Quinn will 'almost certainly' return, but Margot Robbie 'may be over' the role

Lifestyle

Jennifer Lawrence wore her velvet house coat and fuzzy slippers out in NYC

Travel

Copenhagen's new Kai bathhouse opens December 5 with 10 pools for about $10

Food

Cheerios finally gets a Ziploc resealable bag with a pour spout

Sport

Cooper Flagg averages 25 points and Kendrick Perkins sees 'LeBron James-type vibes'

Entertainment

Rihanna says A$AP Rocky keeps draining her vanilla-flower body wash bottle

Celebrity

Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato recreate Princess Protection Program poster for Rare Beauty

Lifestyle

Elle Fanning starts Effie Trinket press tour in a music-box couture dress

Travel

White Pass Railway Skagway: $155 direct beats the cruise line by almost $80

Food

Costco's 21-ounce French Brie is the Thanksgiving buy worth grabbing early

Sport

Stan Wawrinka retires after Swiss Indoors loss to Jiri Lehecka