Sleep cheats and carpool karaoke, how Prince William’s casual parenting style keeps the Cambridge kids in c... (original) (raw)

IT’S Father’s Day on Sunday and one famous dad praised for his parenting skills is Prince William.

The Duke of Cambridge, 37, is often seen as a down-to-earth dad to George, six, Charlotte, five, and two-year-old Louis.

Prince William has been praised for being a down-to-earth dad to George, Charlotte and LouisCredit: PA:Press Association

And it turns out he has a few tricks up his sleeve that can help all parents give their children a happy childhood.

Rebekah Pemberton explores how Wills is raising the young royals.

Sleep guru

GETTING young kids to sleep through the night can be a struggle, but Prince William has an effective tip.

Prince William turns the bathroom taps on to help his kids drift off to sleepCredit: AFP

A source told Fabulous: “Wills would turn the bathroom taps on so George, who was a notoriously bad and light sleeper, drifted off to the sound of running water.

“He employed exactly the same technique with Charlotte, which had the desired effect in no time.”

Nappy days

DESPITE having a highly trained Norland nanny for his kids, William has been keen to get stuck into parenting duties.

Wills has been happy to get stuck in with nappy changes for all of his three kidsCredit: Getty - Contributor

The source added: “William changed Prince George’s nappy in the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London, after he was born.

“He is not squeamish and has changed nappies for all of his three children, even in the back of his Range Rover when there has been an ‘unexpected accident’.”

Carpool karaoke

WILLIAM may have found fatherhood somewhat scary at the beginning, said the source, but he is now “at ease with his growing trio of noisy, boisterous children.”

William loves driving Charlotte and George to their £17,000-a-year south London school Thomas’s BatterseaCredit: Getty - Pool

He especially loves driving Charlotte and George to their £17,000-a-year south London school Thomas’s Battersea — and will sing to them on the journey.

The source said: “He will often test them on homework, sing a song or play I Spy en route.”

Mind your manners

WHEN the family need some playtime away from the Palace, they have been seen at the £1,280-a-year Hurlingham Club in Fulham.

The Cambridge children always behave 'impeccably' when visiting the £1,280-a-year Hurlingham Club in FulhamCredit: Alamy

A member revealed that the Cambridge children always behave “impeccably” during any visits.

They said: “The family often dine there al fresco and use the club’s sporting and play facilities.

“There is no tantrums or food throwing and the children eat what is set before them.

“They queue up with the rest of the kids and parents in the Harness Room restaurant and ask for no special favours.”

In the real world

PRINCE William has stressed the importance of giving his kids as steady an upbringing as possible.

The Duke said he wants George to 'grow up in a real, loving environment'Credit: Getty - Contributor

He told GQ magazine: “I want to bring up my children in a happy, stable, secure world and that is so important to both of us as parents.

“I want George to grow up in a real, loving environment.

“I don’t want him growing up behind palace walls — he has to be out there.”

In-law a role model

WILLIAM is “far more hands on than his father Charles ever was”, says a source, and he also sees Kate’s dad, Michael Middleton, as a role model for being a loving dad.

Wills sees Kate’s dad, Michael Middleton, as a role model for being a loving dadCredit: PA:Press Association

“Wills views Michael as a kindly, grandfather who is amusing, solid, never wants the limelight and is a much-loved member of the team.”

Mental health teacher

AN insider said William is serious about teaching his children the “downside of life”, having experienced loss in his own life.

William wants to teach his kids about loss, like that of their grandmother DianaCredit: PA:Press Association

A friend said: “They will grow to understand loss, like that of their grandmother Diana, mental health and the frailties and repercussions — but all in good time.

“Now is about stability and love.”

Dinnertime drama

THE trickiest part of being a parent is dinner time, William has admitted.

Wills has admitted that dinner time is the trickiest part of being a parentCredit: Reuters

Speaking on Zoom to community chef Charlie Farrally from the Scottish charity Peek Project, he said the success of his family meal “depends on what’s on the table”.

He continued: “If parents put something on that children love, dinner time goes on very well.

“But if you put something on the table they don’t want to do, that’s another ball game.”

Mates and Muckers

THE key to William being a secure and happy father is having a close-knit inner circle around him, known as M and Ms (the mates and muckers).

Prince William has a close-knit inner circle around him, known as M and Ms - including Harry Aubrey-FletcherCredit: Rex Features

These include Guy Pelly, Thomas Van Cutsem and Harry Aubrey-Fletcher.

A friend added: “Crucially, they like Kate and she likes them and this helps William as a father. They are an outlet.

“Many are godfathers to the children, childhood friends from Ludgrove Prep school days, Eton and St Andrews University.

"William did not drop his friends when he got married — they grew up with him.”

Security blanket

PRINCE William will often be seen holding the hands of his children when they are out, and this can sometimes be down to security.

A source said: “One Cambridge parenting policy is child handholding in public.

Wills will often be seen holding the hands of his children when they are outCredit: Getty Images - Getty

“Kate takes Charlotte’s hand, William with George and they alternate with Louis.