Prince William and Kate Middleton Share a Spy-Themed Activity They’re Doing with Their Kids

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 4 September 2022

This is a busy week for the Cambridges—the family of five just moved into their new home, Adelaide Cottage, in Windsor, and, on Thursday, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will all start school at Lambrook together. And, if that wasn’t enough, apparently the three Cambridge kids, along with parents Prince William and Kate Middleton, are taking part in…spy-themed activities?

Yes, you read that right: according to PEOPLE, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wrote the foreward for an upcoming children’s book called Puzzles for Spies, written by officials from the Government Communications Headquarters. The intelligence, security, and cyber agency of the U.K., according to PEOPLE, is donating the book’s advance and royalties to The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in support of the charity’s mental health initiatives.

“We are delighted that the brilliant minds at GCHQ have been busy working on a third puzzle book, and that this edition is designed for younger readers,” William and Kate wrote in the foreward. “As a family, we are no strangers to the vital work of GCHQ. We have seen firsthand how staff constantly adapt to face new threats, and we remain inspired by how committed staff are to protecting our national security.”

The couple touched on the tough impact of COVID-19 on mental health and thanked readers for supporting the mental health efforts of The Royal Foundation by buying the book. They also shared that they’ll be working through Puzzles for Spies with the help of their three kids.

“We look forward to helping our children solve these puzzles and hope that this book brings friends and families together to start rich conversations,” they wrote. “Talking openly about mental health can be the first step in removing stigma, fear, and isolation. Just like at GCHQ, bringing different perspectives together can often be the key to unlocking a solution you can’t quite find on your own.”

Puzzles for Spies is available September 22 and includes “everything from codes and brainteasers to word riddles and language puzzles,” according to a release surrounding the book’s debut.

Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.