

Picture this: A routine weekday morning in Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. The entire Cambridge family—the Duke and Duchess and their three children Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4, and even pup Orla—are in the mad but happy rush to get the elder two kids, George and Charlotte, off to school at Thomas’s Battersea Prep School. Everyone in the family loves music, so on come the tunes to get ready for the day. Interrupt the idyllic setting with…
“Most mornings there’s a massive fight between Charlotte and George as to what song is played,” said Prince William, per the Mirror. “And I have to, now, basically prioritize that one day someone does this one, and another day it’s someone else’s turn. So George gets his go, then Charlotte gets her go. Such is the clamor for the music.”
When it’s Charlotte’s turn? Expect your daily dose of Shakira, specifically “Waka Waka”—the princess’ favorite song.
“It’s a really happy moment where the children just enjoy dancing, messing around, and singing,” William said.
In particular, when it comes to pop music, his mother Princess Diana was a big fan of songs like Tina Turner’s “The Best”—which William recounted recently she used to blast through the radio on car rides to school with him and younger brother Prince Harry.
“One of the songs I massively remember and has stuck with me all this time, and I to this day still quite enjoy secretly, is Tina Turner’s ‘The Best,’” he said. “Because sitting in the backseat, singing away, it felt like a real family moment.”
He continued “My mother, she’d be driving along singing at the top of her voice. We’d even get the policeman [security] in the car; he’d occasionally be singing along as well. We’d be singing and listening to the music right the way up to the gates at school where they dropped you off.”
It seems the tradition of before school pop music sessions continues, as William makes memories with his kids that one day they will fondly remember.
“What I’ve been amazed by is how much my children already have inherited my family’s love of music,” William said.
And, if Charlotte’s in charge of the day’s playlist? Cue the Shakira!
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

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.
-
The Unexpected Character in Season Six of ‘The Crown’? Princess Diana’s Swimsuits
"The swimsuit is the new ball gown.”
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Spain’s Queen Letizia Masters the Wintery White Pantsuit for Royal Engagement Celebrating Her Former Career
Before she was a member of the Spanish royal family, Letizia was an accomplished journalist.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Priyanka Chopra Jonas Made Us Do a Double Take in A Pink and Black Bodycon Dress
Chopra Jonas—along with a slew of other celebrities—were on hand for the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Apparently King Charles and Prince William Aren’t as Close as We’ve Assumed They Were Since Queen Elizabeth’s Death
Instead of working together for the good of the Crown, Omid Scobie writes that the two are more interested in individual success.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince George and Princess Charlotte "Will Attend Boarding School Together," Claims Royal Source
I'll personally be waiting for an official announcement, though.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
In Between a Rock and a Hard Place, King Charles Might Have the Solution to See Both of His Sons Over the Holidays
Here’s what we know about Prince William, Prince Harry, and Christmas at Sandringham.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Showed How in Love They Are With Affectionate Moment During State Visit
So beautiful.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince William Just Dethroned This Celebrity for the Title of “World’s Sexiest Bald Man 2023”
The methodology to choose this winner is truly mind-blowing.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
A Very Bold 11-Year-Old Boy Asked Prince William How Much Money Was in His Bank Account
William’s response was nothing if not interesting.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince William is “Furious” About This Claim in Omid Scobie’s Latest Book, Commentator Says
“He’s just saying it’s absolutely not true.”
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince William and Prince Harry’s Relationship is Over for Good, Royal Biographer Writes: “There’s No Going Back”
In his new book “Endgame,” Omid Scobie writes that William is convinced Harry has been brainwashed by an “army of therapists.”
By Rachel Burchfield