When Kate Middleton joined the Royal Family after her marriage to Prince William, she established a set of personal rules to balance her royal duties with her family life, an expert has claimed. Kate, now the Princess of Wales, had years to observe the workings of the monarchy during her long relationship with William, which began during their time at the University of St Andrews. Despite her familiarity with the royal world, transitioning into her official role required significant adjustments, especially as she became a mother.
According to royal author Robert Jobson in his new book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, Kate made it clear early on that her family would always come first. When she and William were expecting their second child, Princess Charlotte, in 2015, William communicated Kate’s wishes to his father, Prince Charles, and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Jobson notes that while these wishes were not formally written down, Kate expressed the need “to grow into her role” and requested more time to adjust to the unique demands of royal life.
“She was clear from the outset that she would not be pigeonholed into carrying out particular duties and insisted on having her full quota of maternity leave, away from the glare of the media and public. Her priority, she emphasized, would always be her family,” Jobson wrote, via Fox News.
This family-first approach has been a guiding principle for both Kate and William. They have taken an active role in parenting their three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, choosing to forego the large number of live-in staff typically associated with royalty. In 2022, the family moved from their spacious Kensington Palace apartment to the more modest Adelaide Cottage in Windsor. This decision was partly made to ensure more privacy and a sense of normalcy for their children.
Kate’s commitment to her family was also evident when she made an emotional announcement revealing that she had started chemotherapy. In a heartfelt video, she said, “William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. It has taken time to recover from major surgery and explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.”
Throughout her royal journey, Kate has made it clear that her role as a mother remains her top priority.