Princess Kate has made it clear that values come before everything else when it comes to raising her children.
The 43-year-old royal, who shares Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, with Prince William, believes kindness, respect and honesty are just as important as academic success.
Speaking in a previous interview, Kate said: "My parents taught me about the importance of qualities like kindness, respect and honesty and I realise how central values like these have been to me throughout my life. That is why William and I want to teach our little children... just how important these things are as they grow up."
She added: "In my view, it is just as important as excelling at maths or sport."
Values come first
© GettyThe Prince and Princess of Wales have long made it clear that they want to give their children as normal a childhood as possible.
This includes focusing on emotional wellbeing and strong moral foundations.
Kate has described raising children in the modern world as "tough".
In a 2023 interview with radio host Roman Kemp, she said: "It's not about the number of toys they've got or the number or sort of trips that you go on with them."
She continued: "It's just making sure that they've got the right emotional support around them, and that comes from the adults in their lives."
Her words offered a rare insight into how the royal couple view parenting.
A united approach
© GettyWilliam, 41, has echoed his wife's views over the years. In a 2016 interview, when he was still a father of two, he described their home life as very normal.
He said: "As far as we are concerned within our family unit, we are a normal family."
William added: "I love my children in the same way any father does, and I hope George loves me the same way any son does his father. We are very normal in that sense."
The pair are known for being hands-on parents. They often drop their children off at school themselves and are regular fixtures at their events.
Learning from the past
© Getty ImagesAccording to body language expert Judi James, William has shaped his parenting style based on lessons from his own childhood.
She told The Mirror: "William continually shows how he uses lessons from his past to forge the kind of family unit he sees as more modern and more ideal."
Judi added: "He is clearly also determined to create a more casual and playful life for his own children than he or his father were allowed to enjoy."
This effort has been seen at public events, where George, Charlotte and Louis are often seen laughing and engaging naturally with both parents.
Kate and William also try to avoid overwhelming their children with public appearances.
They limit how often their children are photographed and rarely bring all three to engagements.
A modern royal upbringing
© Getty ImagesDespite their royal roles, Kate and William have worked to ensure their children understand the value of everyday life. That includes being respectful, honest and kind, something Kate has said is non-negotiable.
The Princess once said she "won't budge" on making values the focus of their upbringing. And it’s something both parents stick to.
While the children attend one of the country’s top schools, the Waleses stress emotional intelligence just as much as academic achievement.
Timeline of Princess Kate's health updates
© Getty25 December 2023 – Kate is last seen publicly on Christmas Day
9 January 2024 – Kate celebrates her 42nd birthday, with the King and Queen sharing a behind-the-scenes photo from the coronation to mark the day.
11 January 2024 – William returns to royal duties, meeting rugby heroes Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.
17 January 2024 – Kensington Palace announces in a statement that Kate has undergone abdominal surgery at the London Clinic and that William has temporarily stepped back from royal duties to care for Kate and their children.
18 January 2024 – William visits Kate at the London Clinic.
26 January 2024 – King Charles visits Kate in hospital before undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.
29 January 2024 – Kate is discharged from hospital and returns home to Windsor to continue her recovery. King Charles also leaves the London Clinic on the same day after his treatment.
7 February 2024 – William resumes royal duties attending London's Air Ambulance Charity gala with Tom Cruise.
10 February 2024 – William and Kate spend February half-term with George, Charlotte and Louis at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall. Kate's siblings are also pictured on holiday during the school holidays, with James Middleton and Alizee Thevenet flying to the Caribbean with baby Inigo, and Pippa Matthews and her family holidaying on the island of St Barts.
27 February 2024 – Kate said to be "doing well" as William pulls out of King Constantine memorial due to a "personal matter".
29 February 2024 – Kensington Palace addresses social media speculation, reiterating: "We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter."
10 March 2024 - A photograph of Kate with their three children at home in Windsor is released to mark Mother's Day and to thank the public for their "continued support".
11 March 2024 - Kate publicly apologises for the "confusion" around the photograph as she admitted she "occasionally experiments with editing," after news agencies pulled the image amid claims it had been digitally altered. The Princess is then seen in a car with William as she's driven to a private appointment in London.
19 March 2024 - Footage of William and Kate leaving the Windsor Farm Shop is shared by The Sun and TMZ in the first video sighting of the Princess since surgery.
22 March 2024 - Princess Kate confirms that she has been diagnosed with cancer in a moving video message and is undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
18 April 2024 - Prince William returns to royal duties after spending Easter holidays privately as a family.
10 May 2024 - Prince William says Kate is "doing well" as he visits the Isles of Scilly.
21 May 2024 - Princess Kate is "excited" as Kensington Palace shares update on her early years work with the release of her Business Taskforce's prioritising childhood report.
8 June 2024 - Princess Kate writes letter to Irish Guards to apologise for not being able to take part in the salute at the Colonel's Review.
14 June 2024 - In a personal statement, Kate shares she is making "good progress" and that her "treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months".
15 June 2024 - Kate makes her first major public appearance since diagnosis at Trooping the Colour.
14 July 2024 - Kate watches the Men's final at Wimbledon with Princess Charlotte and Pippa Matthews.
11 August 2024 - William and Kate congratulate Team GB athletes in a video message after the Paris 2024 Olympics.
9 September 2024 - Kate confirms she's completed chemotherapy in moving video message.
10 October 2024 - Kate joins William on visit to bereaved families in Southport.
9/10 November 2024 - Princess attends Festival of Remembrance and Remembrance Day service at Cenotaph.
3 December 2024 - Kate greets Emir of Qatar alongside William during state visit.
6 December 2024 - The Princess of Wales hosts her Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.
25 December 2024 - William and Kate attend the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham with the royals.
14 January 2025 - The Princess confirms she's in remission after visiting The Royal Marsden hospital in London - where she was treated.
The couple's parenting style reflects a shift in how younger royals are being raised. It also shows their commitment to modernising the monarchy in their own way.
Kate and William’s approach appears to be working, with the children showing confidence and composure during recent outings.
As the couple prepare for their children to grow up in the spotlight, it’s clear they believe a strong foundation in values is key.
And when it comes to kindness and respect, Princess Kate isn’t willing to compromise.
