Kate Middleton faces a very interesting predicament as a royal mother. On one hand, she has the future of the monarchy right in front of her, raising three heirs to the throne. On the other hand, she has the entire life she led prior to marrying Prince William. Kate comes from a close-knit family and often talks about the idyllic childhood she had. Those memories are first and foremost on the Duchess of Cambridge's mind when considering matters of parenting.
Much of Prince William and Prince Harry's childhood was documented by prying eyes and official palace functions, especially after the boys lost their mother, Princess Diana. When considering the kind of life she wants for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, a source close to the royal family revealed to People that Kate wants their childhood to closely resemble her own. It's understandable that Kate wants her kids to have some normalcy among the royal whirlwind they're in for.
Kate Middleton is one of few moms throughout history who gets to say she raised heirs to the throne. Prince William and Kate's three children — George, Charlotte, and Louis — are third, fourth, and fifth in the line of succession.
Before she was the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate had a pretty average upbringing. Her parents were upper-middle-class businesspeople. She is the oldest of three siblings, including brother James and sister Pippa.
Kate is committed to giving her kids a piece of her own countryside upbringing. We already know that Kate and the kids spend a lot of time at the family's country home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk. They also enjoy visiting Kate's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, at their country home.
"She wants to emulate her upbringing, living in the countryside with a close-knit family," a friend of the Duchess of Cambridge explained to People. "She desperately wants that normality for her own kids."
Kate showed that her children also enjoy the simpler things in life when she brought them to the reveal of her "Back to Nature" garden for the Chelsea Flower Show earlier this summer. The little royals enjoyed swinging from a rope swing and dipping their toes in the stream.
Getting the kids in touch with the great outdoors is a real priority for Kate. As her friend puts it, "a lot of her childhood was spent outdoors hiking and camping," so Kate wants the same for her children.
Kate touched on the idea while introducing the garden, according to ET. The duchess said, "As a parent, I have learned just how important it is to foster our children’s development, in all areas, not just physical, as soon as they are born."
The Cambridges looked like any other family enjoying a picnic when they attended Prince Harry and Prince William's charity polo game in July with Meghan Markle and baby Archie. Kate kept a close eye on Louis while George and Charlotte played nearby with a soccer ball.
The little family picnicked out of the trunk of their car at the event, where onlookers say the royal kids had to help with lunch. A bystander told People, "George seemed to be saying, ‘Charlotte pass me the sandwiches.’ Kate was asking Charlotte to pass little pots of food, and she also helped herself to food."
Another friend of Kate's told People that she admires the duchess for maintaining a hands-on parenting approach. "It’s the perfect little family unit and she’s an amazing mum, so hands-on and involved with everything," she explained.
Kate's primary focus is her kids, without question. Friends note that "three kids really complete her," an indication that William and Kate aren't likely to be adding more little ones to their brood anytime soon, if at all.
That doesn't mean that Kate isn't rising to her own royal duties, however. When it comes to being a duchess and being regarded as a future queen, she's doing fantastic. "Kate has completely grown into it," a family friend noted. "She has got things right — she really, really has."
Kate likely has many years ahead of her before she and William become the faces of the royal family. Whenever that happens, she's ready. "She is an adoring mother, and she is contributing publicly in the way we would want her to," a source close to the royal household noted.
With each appearance, Kate seems more sure of her role in the royal family. "You see it more and more. The young student has turned into our future Queen," the source noted. From all accounts, it seems like Kate will make a wonderful queen when the time comes.
