The Prince and Princess of Wales Have a Legitimate Fear When It Comes to Their Three Kids

It’s a day-to-day challenge William and Kate face.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis
(Image credit: Getty)

As time goes on, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—the three children of the Prince and Princess of Wales—become more out front, joining their parents on royal engagements and dipping a toe into the ever-present spotlight that surrounds them. Yet, public figures though they are, William and Kate still want to protect the trio’s privacy, and still want to ensure that the three of them have as normal a childhood as possible.

“[William and Kate] are wisely concerned at any overexposure of him [George] and of Charlotte and Louis,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Daily Express about one of William and Kate’s biggest fears. “The younger they are, the more likely they are to steal the show with childish antics, which get publicized worldwide and make the monarchy seem more relatable.” 

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis at the Coronation Big Help Out

(Image credit: Getty)

George, in particular, has the eyes of the world upon him, as the future monarch: “Whether as Page of Honor at the Coronation or blowing bubbles on a visit to Canada, whatever he does, as he is the future king, is of interest,” Fitzwilliams said. “We are fed tidbits—that George enjoys dancing, plays tennis, or likes a pizza—and we get regular photographs of him on special occasions and see him at certain royal events. His parents, however, are well aware of the need for him and his siblings to have privacy as they grow up.”

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis at Trooping the Colour riding in the carriage procession

(Image credit: Getty)

Though The Daily Express reports that King Charles “has been pressuring his elder son and daughter-in-law to increase their duties,” William and Kate have made it clear “that they want to put their young family first,” the outlet reports. In an example that their children will always come before duty, Kate has opted to skip William’s third annual Earthshot Prize Awards in Singapore next month in favor of staying behind to help George navigate exams, which he has the same week, with The Daily Express reporting that Kate wants to be present to support their eldest son.

Rachel Burchfield
Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor

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.