Kate Middleton had to teach Prince William how to give their children piggyback rides, a common parenting habit he never experienced growing up, according to a new book by author Tom Quinn titled Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants.
Royal Staff Reveal Behind-the-Scenes Insights
Former royal staff members shared intimate details about the couple's private life. A former Kensington Palace maid told Quinn that Kate had to introduce William to the concept of giving his children a piggyback ride. The prince had never experienced one in his childhood.
The maid reportedly said: 'Kate had to explain many of the things that parents outside the royal family do with their children as a matter of course. She had to show him how to give the children a piggyback, for example. William said very quietly, “My father never gave me a piggyback.”'
William and Charles Share Similar Temperaments
Other candid revelations about life behind palace walls also emerged. In an excerpt published in the Times, one former staff member told Quinn: 'King Charles and William both get irritated very quickly. They are very picky. It comes naturally to them.' In these situations, Catherine often serves as the calming influence.
The insider continued: 'I don't know where William would be without Kate – she hasn't had everything done for her throughout her life, so she calms him down when he gets a bit fractious. She said he sometimes has to be treated as her fourth child.'
Catherine Praised for Navigating Palace Life
Catherine received praise from other sources regarding how she navigated the complexities of palace life, alongside the 'snooty' attitudes she initially encountered from some staff members. A former Kensington Palace employee told Quinn: 'Kate is someone who slowly and carefully absorbs the atmosphere of a place, the relationship between people and the rules. She doesn't jump in straight away and try to change everything to suit her way of thinking. She bides her time and is very intelligent and intuitive about other people, what they do and how they behave.'
They continued: 'She was also coached – not just by William, who wanted Kate to avoid the problems his mother had encountered, but also by the staff. Kate was always happy to accept advice both from the lower staff, with whom she got on very well, and from the courtiers, even though some of them were initially very snooty about her.'
Background on the Royal Couple
Catherine married Prince William on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, having been in a relationship since 2003. Following their marriage, Catherine was bestowed the title of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, while William was appointed Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus. On 9 September 2022, Catherine assumed the title of Princess of Wales after William was granted the title of Prince of Wales by his father, King Charles III. Prince William's mother, Diana, held the title of Princess of Wales before Catherine. She died following a car accident in August 1997, at the age of 36.
