Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are all on their summer break from school
William and his children on the beach in Norfolk(Image: PA)
The summer holidays are here – and for the Prince and Princess of Wales, who recently made a surprise appearance at Wimbledon, Royal duties will be put on hold for the next few weeks as they spend valuable time with their children.
Just like children all over the country, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis are now on their summer break from Lambrook School before they return to lessons in September. The family will likely retreat to enjoy their time together, possibly heading to their Norfolk residence, Anmer Hall, where they can immerse themselves in country life and possibly even enjoy a holiday elsewhere too.
Kate, who has previously spoken about her ‘rollercoaster’ recovery from cancer treatment and its life-changing impact, is a strong advocate for spending time outdoors, reports the Mirror.
Former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells OK! that as Kate, and indeed William, come up with ways to keep their children entertained over the long holiday – there are seven golden rules they’ll most likely follow…
Protected private time
Kate may still be gradually returning to public duties following her cancer treatment, but even before her health scare, spending school holidays with the children seems to have always been a non-negotiable for the princess.
And for Jennie, this summer will be no exception, marking a significant departure from the holidays Prince William experienced at his children’s age, which were very public affairs.
She said: “The truth is that school holidays are ring-fenced as private time for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their young family. And, these days, that means that their plans remain confidential and they are pretty much left alone.
“It’s a massive change from the days when William was a boy. Back then, the paparazzi and mainstream media regarded Diana, William and Harry as public property, no matter where they were. Thankfully, after the death of the Princess, things changed. And that must be a huge relief to the Waleses.”
The children are all on their summer holidays(Image: Will Warr)Down-to-earth activities
Despite their Royal status, William and Kate are not expected to take their children off to exotic locations on private jets or stay in luxury hotels.
Jennie believes their summer will be spent engaging in more down-to-earth activities – enjoying the Great British countryside and possibly even getting their hands dirty on the farm near their country retreat.
She said: “They love the wide open spaces in Norfolk, the freedom they have to explore the Sandringham estate and also to play, pretty unhindered, on the beaches. The Sandringham farm offers an opportunity for all sorts of fun for the children, tractors to watch, animals to feed and fruit to pick. The family is also very fond of the Scilly Isles, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they spent a week or two there.
“William and Catherine are doing their best to give their children as down-to-earth an upbringing as possible, given the extraordinary place they’ve been given in the world.”
Limited screen time
Nevertheless, one significant challenge confronting parents across the country this summer is determining how much screen time to permit their children, something William and Kate will be acutely conscious of as they manage bringing up their youngsters in a digital age.
Recently, during a visit to the Lake District with the Scouts, Kate discussed venturing into nature and using traditional paper maps instead of depending on phones to chart walking routes. Meanwhile, William has also cautioned young people about the significance of setting aside their devices.
Jennie added: “William has spoken about George’s love of video games, and they have both talked about ‘regulating’ their children’s screen time. Even TV watching can apparently be problematic, with battles over who should be in charge of the remote.
“But, especially with Catherine’s expertise in children’s development, I’m sure they’ll be pretty rigorous about monitoring who watches what – and for how long.”
Household chores
However, it’s not just screen time that Jennie believes Kate will be keeping an eye on; she also thinks that the princess will be encouraging her children to do their bit around the house with household tasks.
When at their Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor, the Wales family do not have any live-in staff, as they strive to maintain a normal, family atmosphere.
The royal family give their final wave from the Palace balcony(Image: PA)
And even though it might be the summer holidays and a time for enjoyment, Jennie believes simple tasks might still remain for the children, set by Kate and William. She explained: “I wouldn’t be in the least surprised if the children were given a few household chores such as tidying their rooms, filling the dishwasher, brushing the dog and cleaning up after the puppies.
“William and Catherine have both lived life outside the Palace walls, shopping, cooking and cleaning when they were at university and, afterwards, when they lived on Anglesey. They will want their children to understand that, even if you’re royal, you can still treat your home and parents with respect – and pull your weight.”
School work cast aside
But despite the screen-time restrictions and chores to get done, it doesn’t mean it will be all work and no play. Jennie is of the opinion that any school work for George, Charlotte and Louis will be set aside in favour of quality family time during their break from class.
“There may be some school projects to get on with – particularly for George and Charlotte – but these long holidays are really a time to put their studies on one side and just enjoy being kids”, she stated.
“William, Catherine and the children will have plenty of time to be just the five of them – in Norfolk and wherever else they choose to go.”
Louis and Charlotte help mum Kate with a spot of gardening during the Big Help Out in 2023(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Royal tradition observed
The summer typically means no Royal engagements for the Wales family during their well-guarded family time. Following William, Kate, George and Charlotte’s unexpected appearance at Wimbledon last week for the men’s singles final, it’s likely official appearances will now cease until September.
However, Jennie is almost certain there’s one Royal tradition Kate, William and the children will be keen to participate in – the annual trip to Balmoral.
The Scottish Highlands estate was the favourite home of the late Queen and was once described as her happy place. Since becoming King, Charles has continued the tradition of inviting his family members for a long weekend all together at the estate each August, something the Wales family have very much been a part of.
Louis with his older brother George(Image: Getty Images)
“It’s a long-standing tradition that the family gather in Scotland to catch their breath, enjoy the peace of the countryside and just have fun being together”, Jennie stated.
“Charles relishes spending time with his grandchildren. Camilla has talked about how good he is at reading stories and putting on all the appropriate voices. Of course, George and Charlotte might feel they are a little old to be read to, but I’m sure Louis will still enjoy his grandfather’s storytelling. Then there’s the fishing, the picnics, the ponies – and lots of cousins coming and going, as the castle hosts the extended family.
“I doubt whether Charles has continued his mother’s tradition of leaving gifts for the children, but he’s much more likely to play practical jokes or have a romp around the house and gardens with them. And I’m sure he also enjoys teaching them about the wildlife and the countryside up there.
“It may also be a time when, perhaps on the walk across the moors, he chooses to offer a guiding hand to George about what lies ahead.”
Middleton meet-ups
However, it’s not solely their Royal relatives that the Wales family will spend time with, as Jennie believes time will almost certainly be set aside for them to spend with Kate’s family, including her parents, Carole and Michael. The future Queen’s mother and father have provided unwavering support for their daughter and grandchildren throughout Kate’s cancer treatment.
William and Kate with their three children George, Charlotte and Louis(Image: PA)
In a significant gesture last year, they were the only individuals apart from Kate, William and the children to feature in a heartfelt video released to mark the conclusion of the princess’s chemotherapy treatment. Their bond with their grandchildren was also clear during Christmas at Kate’s annual carol concert, where Louis placed a handwritten note on a kindness tree expressing gratitude to his ‘Grannie and Grandpa’ for “playing games with me”.
Jennie also mentioned: “They adore their granny and granddad Middleton and now have lots of little cousins on that side of the family to enjoy spending time with.”
(Image: PA)