Changing the Royal Rules
Kate Moves Back to London — on Her Terms—While Preparing to Become Queen
She’s raising two small kids and taking on more royal duties than ever. How Kate is finding balance and putting her family first
She’s one of the most famous women in the world, but Kate Middleton still savors the simple pleasures in life, such as going grocery shopping for the home-cooked meals she likes to make for her family. Having lived primarily in the Norfolk, England, countryside since 2015, she’s been afforded that luxury and is able to move about with her cherished tots, George, 3, and Charlotte, 21 months, shielded from the glare of the paparazzi. “Prince William and Kate have always enjoyed ano- nymity there,” royals expert James McCourt tells Closer of Kate’s love of Anmer Hall. But the duchess, 35, will soon reluctantly leave her quiet country lifestyle behind.
This fall, she and William, 34, will be thrust back into the spotlight when they return to London’s Kensington Palace to help the aging queen with her workload. “This will be the biggest change this young family has had to face so far,” Paul Burrell, Princess Diana’s former butler, tells Closer. “There will be times when Kate has to perform a royal duty when in her heart she would want to take the kids to school or be at a school play, watching her children.” Like any parent, she’s going to have to balance work and family, but Kate is more determined than ever to do it her way.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
When Queen Elizabeth II, 90, suddenly fell ill in December and raised fears about her future, William and Kate accepted the fact that their official responsibilities would need to be increased. “Over Christmas, the family realized that its world was about to change and its younger members would be called to the front lines for active service,” Burrell says. “William and Kate have jointly made one of the most important decisions of their married life and will move back to London. William has resigned from active service as a helicopter pilot in order to support his grandmother, training in earnest
for his future role as king.”
It’s a big sacrifice, and one that doesn’t come without regrets for Kate, a country girl at heart. She grew up outside London in Berkshire, where her parents, Carole and Michael, still live. She remains close with them, but “once permanently at Kensington Palace, it may be slightly more difficult for the Middletons to maintain their current level of involvement with their grandchildren,” McCourt says.
Nevertheless, Kate insists on regular visits with her parents, which she hopes will help George and Charlotte stay grounded. “Kate wants her kids’ upbringing to be as normal as possible,” an insider tells Closer. “She’s strict, but she doesn’t want them to have a formal life and refuses to allow them to be waited on hand and foot. She’ll ensure they do the kind of chores other kids do, like making their bed and cleaning up after themselves.”
That’s why William and Kate will likely only have five or six staff members (a nanny and a backup nanny among them) helping them out in London, a relatively light detail
for a royal family. “If they have events, they’ll just borrow Buckingham Palace staff,” Darren McGrady, former chef to Princess Diana, tells Closer.
And unlike the queen, who has 20 chefs of her own, Kate has a relationship with her staff that closely mirrors the one William’s mother had with hers. “Princess Diana would walk into the kitchen and say, ‘Darren, I see you’re busy so I’ll make my own coffee. Would you like one?’” recalls McGrady, who now runs his own catering company, Eating Royally. “That’s how William and Kate are. He got it from his mom and Kate got it from her side of the family.”
“Kate’s biggest challenge will be giving up her private life.” — Darren McGrady, Princess Diana’s former chef
KATE’S NEW LIFE
The duchess will need to prepare for some other changes once she arrives in London. “Each day an individual appointment card will be placed on her desk outlining official duties,” Burrell reveals, adding that “she and William will entertain more in their home and will have regular lunch and dinner par-
ties. William will be carrying out even more engagements on behalf of his grandmother.” He’s proud to follow in the footsteps of a woman he’s long admired. As William has said, “Having lost my mother at a young age, it’s been particularly important to me that I’ve had somebody like the queen to look up to.”
For her part, Kate will be required to attend more charity functions than she was able to while living in Norfolk. “When I worked for Princess Diana, she was patron of 119 charities,” McGrady says. “She told me that just turning up to an event raises money and awareness tenfold for a charity,” so Kate’s schedule is certain to become heavily booked.
Her children’s needs, however, will always remain her and William’s top priority, especially as George is expected to be enrolled this fall in one of London’s three Wetherby Schools, institutions both his father and Prince Harry attended. “We’ll all see a familiar pattern emerging as Kate and William walk him to school each morning, watched by the world’s press,” Burrell says.
With Charlotte likely attending nursery school in the fall and Kate’s royal duties increasing, the hands-on mom fears missing out on precious milestones with her kids. But “Kate is strong-willed and will stand her ground,” the insider says. “If things get too much for her, William will speak directly to the queen to ensure they’ll have quality time with George and Charlotte.”
London living won’t be without perks, of course. “Kate has many friends in Chelsea and South Kensington, and she looks forward to hosting dinner parties,” the insider reveals. “And she’ll be closer to her sister, Pippa, who adores George and Charlotte.” The little ones will get to see their fun uncle more, too! “Prince Harry loves kids, and he’s planning a surprise party to celebrate William and Kate’s move to London,” the insider adds.
The duchess will also receive support from older members of the royal family. “The palace is making huge efforts with Kate, refusing to make the same mistakes it did with Diana,” McCourt says.
Adds McGrady, “The one reason Her Majesty had left William and Kate up in Norfolk for so long is because the worst thing that could happen is for them to fall out, and then we’d have another Charles and Diana situation.” Kate appreciates the queen’s sensitivity. “She’s been generous and not forceful at all in her views,” says Kate. “She’s really been there in a gentle guidance for me.”
Kate knew what would be expected of her when she married into William’s family, but her ability to live her life on her own terms seems to be paying off. “The duchess has what it takes to make it all work,” says Burrell. “She hasn’t put a foot wrong yet.” — Reporting by
Diana Cooper and Natalie Posner
“[Kate] is an amazing mother and a fantastic wife.” — Prince William