The Prince and Princess of Wales are implementing a highly considered approach to raising their three children, with a particular focus on ensuring their younger son and daughter do not feel overshadowed by their older brother, the future king.
A Deliberate Effort to Avoid Favouritism
According to royal expert and biographer Robert Hardman, William and Kate are hyper-aware of the dynamics involved in raising an heir and 'spares' within the royal family. He suggests they are trying exceptionally hard not to show favouritism towards their eldest son, Prince George.
Hardman, speaking to the Daily Mail, explained the unique challenge they face. "Of course, Prince George is the heir, and that's the way it's going to be. It's a hereditary, hierarchical, constitutional monarchy. You can't change that," he stated. "But there are ways, I think, in which you can try and ensure that you don't leave the younger ones feeling they are any less loved or any less relevant."
Learning from the 'Resentment' of Past Royals
This conscious parenting strategy appears to be a direct response to the well-documented difficulties faced by younger siblings of monarchs in previous generations. Hardman pointed to the historical examples of Prince Harry and Princess Margaret as cautionary tales of how a disparate upbringing can foster lifelong resentment.
He provided a detailed account of the slights experienced by the late Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II. "Elizabeth got a proper education. She gets history lessons from Sir Henry Martin at Eton, Margaret doesn't," Hardman noted. "Elizabeth gets to wear a uniform and serve in the war, Margaret doesn't. She got to have her own household and do engagements, Margaret doesn't."
These early-life differences, he argued, cultivated a "rebellious streak" in Princess Margaret that persisted throughout her life until her death in 2002.
The Unexpected Role of the 'Wicked Fairy'
However, Hardman also highlighted a potential, if controversial, upside to having a more prominent 'spare' who attracts media attention. He referenced the views of the late Lord Charteris, a former private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II.
"Later in life, he always said that it's very important – in every Royal family – to have a wicked fairy to take the flak," Hardman explained. He suggested that Princess Margaret fulfilled this role by drawing criticism and scandal away from the monarch, acting as the necessary "yin and yang" within the institution.
This presents a complex balancing act for the Waleses: fostering a sense of equality and belonging for all their children while navigating the inescapable hierarchies of the monarchy. Their modern approach aims to provide a more balanced upbringing for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, hoping to avoid the pitfalls of the past.
