"I’m concentrating very much on my role as a father," the Duke of Cambridge told BBC in 2016, following the birth of his daughter.
"I'm a new father and I take my duties and my responsibilities to my family very seriously and I want to bring my children up as good people with the idea of service and duty to others as very important," he explained, before adding:
"But if I can't give my time to my children as well, I worry about their future."
WATCH: Prince George breaks out in tears after being yelled at by Kate Middleton
Royal expert Katie Nicholl wrote in Vanity Fair that Prince William and Kate Middleton's concerns may have been a factor in their decision to "hide away from the public gaze in Norfolk."
The royal family's home of Anmer Hall in Norfolk - near Queen Elizabeth II's residence in Sandringham - was given to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as a wedding present in 2011.
It has since become a retreat from their official residence at Kensington Palace - a decision that some viewed as the future king taking his family out of the spotlight.
A royal insider told Nicholl that "William says there is no negotiation when it comes to his family."
"The Duke has since addressed his critics, refuting the accusations and defending his decision to put his family first," Nicholl wrote.
"At Anmer, William says, they are a family unit. We are a normal family. Right now it's just a case of keeping a secure, stable environment," she added.
Prince William and Kate are taking a hands-on approach to parenting.
Earlier this month, both parents attended Princess Charlotte's first day of school.
The Cambridge family shared portraits of the big day on theKensingtonRoyal Instagram account.
Prince William and Kate Middleton attended Princess Charlotte's first day of school earlier this month.
Recently, the headteacher of the private school recently revealed that Thomas's Battersea is facing a "significant challenge" of demanding parents.
"With school fees up by nearly 100 per cent since 2003, parents’ expectations are, not unreasonably, sky-high," Principal Ben Thomas wrote in an article for the book The State of Independence: Key Challenges Facing Private Schools.
"The days of the laid-back, hands-off, middle-class parents (if they ever existed) are long gone… ‘I pay therefore I expect’ has become a mantra."
Parents are informed that students of Thomas's Battersea will be in an atmosphere which seeks positive relationships between pupils, teachers and parents.
Art, ballet, drama, ICT, French, music and physical education are all taught by specialist teachers from a child’s first day.
They are open to children of all faiths and believes in “praise as the greatest motivator.”