Princess Kate “insisted” on breaking royal protocol following the birth of her first child for one crucial reason, according to reports. The Princess of Wales asked for the public announcement of Prince George’s birth in July 2013 to be pushed back several hours, allowing the young family to “savour the moment in private”, a royal author claimed. Prince George was born at 4.24pm on July 22, but Buckingham Palace did not announce the news until later that evening.
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ preference for a private life has persisted as their family has grown, with former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond claiming William is “much more a protective husband and dad than a King in waiting”.
“After a childhood spent shuffling between the homes of his quarrelling parents, William is determined to give his family the stability he missed,” she told The Mirror.
“He is almost obsessive about guarding his family’s privacy. And the fact is that they can have a great deal more privacy in a secluded house in Windsor Great Park than they could ever enjoy if they live in the middle of a major tourist attraction like the Palace or the Castle.”
The princess will travel to Reggio Emilia in Italy this week in collaboration with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
Kate revealed she was in remission at the start of last year after being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer early in 2024, for which she underwent chemotherapy.
She has gradually returned to royal duties, including supporting the King at state visits to the UK, and last month joined the Royal Family to mark the 100th anniversary of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, and made a solo appearance at the Cenotaph on Anzac Day.