Now New Idea can reveal how Kate is doing all she can behind the scenes to protect her children, which means being away from Kensington Palace and royal circles as much as the family’s schedule allows.
“They spend as much time as possible at Anmer Hall, their home in Norfolk, because that is where they can live as normal a life as possible,” explains a royal insider.
“The children go to the beach, walk in the woods and go to fairs and equestrian events. They even went along to see Norwich play Prince William’s team Aston Villa and sat with the fans.”
This desire to raise their children in a normal environment while also respecting royal traditions was evident last week when Kate was spotted with George, 6, and Charlotte, 4, shopping for Halloween outfits at a supermarket near Anmer Hall.
A fellow shopper reportedly commented: “It was lovely to see her just being a normal mum shopping with her kids.”
Again proving she’s ever the hands-on mother, Kate was also spotted at a get-together with her fellow school mums at the Hollywood Arms pub. The duchess reportedly entered the pub via a secret entrance so her arrival was undetected.
Having recently been voted in a poll the second most popular member of the royal family after the Queen, Kate’s own childhood appears to be a great influence in how she raises her children. In 2015 she explained how “lucky” she was to have had such a happy upbringing.
“My parents and teachers provided me with a wonderful and secure childhood where I always knew I was loved, valued and listened to,” she explained.
It’s thought Carole and Michael Middleton continue in the the same vein with their grandchildren, taking an active part in their day to day lives.
“Kate comes from a very grounded and strong family,” notes our palace insider.
“She is surrounded by support from her parents and siblings”.
Last week a source told The Sun that Kate and William are determined to give their children a similar life, with a source noting the couple don’t want them to live in a “gilded bubble”.
“They want them to grow
up having the same experiences as other kids,” the source said.
The duchess is also clearly inspired by Princess Diana’s style of parenting, which famously broke with royal traditions. “She was very unstuffy and wanted William and Harry to fit in with their school friends and experience normality. That’s the baton she handed to Kate,” the source added.
While Diana was determined to instill a sense of normality into her sons’ lives by taking them to fast food joints and amusement parks, Kate and William make sure their children enjoy play dates with school friends and visit the local petting zoo and parks.
According to William, they also enjoy the benefits of a countryside upbringing, despite being mostly based in London.
“My children are already, you know, playing on the tractors. And …it’s so important to get outside, and have the children understand nature,” William shared in the documentary Prince Charles: Inside the Duchy of Cornwall.
Despite appearing at ease with parenthood, both have been very open about the difficulties they’ve faced since the arrival
of their three children.
“Personally, becoming a mother has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience,” Kate said in 2017. “However, at times it has also been a huge challenge. Even for me who has support at home that most mothers do not.”
Meanwhile, William admitted he’d “struggled at times” with the transition to fatherhood.
For more, see this week's New Idea - out now!