Kate Middleton Taught Her Kids An Important Rule Every Royal Should Abide By

Parenting an ordinary kid is hard enough. Raising little royals, one of whom is set to be the future king of England, is quite another. It's no wonder Kate Middleton has a unique parenting style. Her three children need to understand what it is to be royal while also growing up knowing that their high status in society doesn't mean they're superior human beings who are above the rules. This is arguably something certain adult royals would do well to remember. A source dished to Radar Online in September 2026 that, while Princess Catherine is obviously a loving and supportive mother to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, she's also strict. "The children might be growing up knowing they belong to the royal family, but inside their home the emphasis is on kindness, manners, honesty and treating other people properly," they disclosed. "Titles and privilege do not excuse bad behavior." Preach!

Catherine most likely doesn't want her kids to follow in the footsteps of Andrew, who frequently flaunted his privilege. He frequently traveled in private jets (which earned him the nickname Airmiles Andy), and stayed at extravagant hotels. He was also known for being a party animal, having multiple affairs, and being incredibly rude to palace staffers. As former royal butler Paul Burrell confirmed to Fox News, "I saw his pompousness firsthand. He would tell people to 'F off, get out of here, F off,' which was obscene, really — the way he treated people."

Then there's Prince Harry, who not only partied naked in Las Vegas in 2012, but infamously wore an offensive costume to a party. He also aired his family's dirty laundry in tell-all memoir "Spare."

Princess Catherine is well aware that she is raising the future of the monarchy, and with that comes the enormous responsibility to rear humans who are kind, competent, and responsible. While speaking at a Best Beginnings charity event, in 2017, the Princess of Wales acknowledged that, while being a mother is incredible, the role has "also been a huge challenge," per Vogue. Yep, even the future queen of England admitted that parenting is hard! But Kate Middleton's "radical" approach to parenting reportedly even has Prince William taking notes, and it's arguably because she was inspired by her own upbringing.

During an appearance on "Capital Breakfast" in February 2023, Catherine emphasized the importance of understanding that how you raise your children determines what the future will look like. "This isn't just about raising kids. It's about shaping our futures and shaping not only the adults we become, but shaping our society, creating a happier, healthier, more nurturing world for us all to live in as well," she argued (via YouTube). During an event for her Shaping Us campaign, the princess explained that a big part of rearing your children well is analyzing your own experience and noticing what had the most impact on you — positively and negatively — and then learning from that so you can alter your approach. 

Royal fans have often watched Catherine being a mom in real time. Prince Louis, whose silly personality has stolen the show on multiple occasions, received gentle reprimands from her during royal events, without any tears or tantrums being involved. As a result, we'd say the future of the monarchy is in good hands.