For more than a decade she has operated discreetly in the
background of one of the world’s most scrutinised households,
shepherding royal children through their earliest years with calm
authority and near-total anonymity. Now Maria Teresa Turrion
Borrallo, the full-time nanny to the Prince and Princess of Wales,
has been formally recognised for her service.
Ms Turrion Borrallo has been awarded the Royal Victorian Medal
(Silver), an honour bestowed personally by the King to thank
individuals who have given loyal service to the monarch or the
royal family. It is a rare public acknowledgment for a woman whose
professional success has rested on staying resolutely out of the
limelight.
The award forms part of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO), which
is unlike many other honours in the British system. It is not
granted on the advice of government ministers nor scrutinised by
independent committees. Instead, it is given entirely at the
discretion of the reigning monarch, making it a direct and personal
expression of royal gratitude. Established by Queen Victoria in
1896, the order was created to recognise those who had rendered
exceptional personal service to the sovereign or members of the
royal family – often over many years, and frequently away from
public view.
The Spanish-born nanny has cared for Prince George, Princess
Charlotte and Prince Louis since joining the household in 2014,
shortly after the birth of the future king. Trained at the
prestigious Norland College in Bath – the elite institution whose
graduates are famed for their blend of traditional discipline and
modern childcare expertise – she was recruited on the
recommendation of palace staff and quickly became
indispensable.
In the years since, she has been a constant presence as the
Wales family moved from Kensington Palace to Anmer Hall and later
to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, supporting the children through
school transitions, overseas tours and the demands of growing up
under intense public scrutiny.
While royal nannies are rarely seen, Ms Turrion Borrallo made a
memorable early impression at Princess Charlotte’s christening in
2015, when she appeared in Norland’s instantly recognisable
Edwardian-style uniform: brown dress, bowler hat, white gloves and
sensible lace-up shoes. The outfit — largely unchanged since the
college was founded in 1892 — briefly lifted the veil on the
traditions underpinning royal childcare.
Those who have observed the family closely have long noted the
strong bond between the nanny and the children, particularly during
their early years. She has accompanied them on major overseas tours
and was often seen quietly managing logistics while the Duke and
Duchess — as they then were — carried out official duties.
One small moment captured public affection: Princess Charlotte’s
first appearance outside the Lindo Wing wrapped in a cream bonnet,
later revealed to be a handmade gift sourced by Ms Turrion Borrallo
from a Spanish family firm. The gesture, modest and personal, spoke
to the close relationship she had already formed with the
family.
Now, with Prince George entering his teens and his siblings
following close behind, the award serves as recognition of
continuity and trust – values at the heart of the Royal Victorian
Order. For the Prince and Princess of Wales, who place enormous
emphasis on stability and normality for their children, Ms Turrion
Borrallo has been a quiet constant through years of change.