To ask why all of the Queen's adult grandchildren have chosen to have kids?

[itsbeen4minutes]

Out of the Queen's 6 adult grandchildren, all of them have had children. AIBU to ask whether this is normal in terms of pretty every member of a family having chosen to have kids?

I have chosen to not have children so feel like if I was a member of the royal family I would be judged quite a bit on my choice to remain childfree.

It's becoming more common. I'm early 40s and I know several people who are childfree by choice - concerns over mental health issues being passed on, concerns over the environment, admittedly selfish and just don't want kids to interfere with their lifestyle.

In the royal family then it's about continuing the lineage though. An upper class thing. In my experience the working classes and upper classes breed. The middle classes are more selective about whether to breed or not.

I wonder what all these kids are going to do with climate change coming along...

It's already upon us.....

I have one. So not perfect. Scary though. I read Silent Spring as a teenager....

I’ve only come across people who have chosen not to have children, on mumsnet. I know people without children, of course but none by choice.

Oh, and I'm 67.

What is this MN obsession with 2.2 children and no more?

It's not just MN. Most people I know only want/wanted two children.

Reasons:
Cost - financial and emotional
Environmental concerns
Health concerns
Maybe they don't want to spend their entire adulthood bringing up children
They just don't feel broody/maternal
Size of house/car
Two children is easier than more than two
They don't want to be a slave to the drudgery of having a large family

They support themselves with huge inherited wealth. None of them are working in standard jobs.

I’ve only come across people who have chosen not to have children, on mumsnet.

I find this difficult to believe. Don't you work?

@WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps number of cousins depends on how many dcs your parents' siblings have, not your own siblings.

@Antarcticant

Your point is evidenced by the post immediately below you 😂

My maternal grandparents had six grandchildren. We are aged between 41 and 47 and two have children.

Most people happily choose to have children?

I am one of 9 grandchildren on my fathers side.

The only one not to have children has disabilities, can't form relationships or live independently.

The rest of us have all had children. Between us there are 16!

I don't know many people who have chosen to stay childfree (although I sadly have a couple of friends who desperately wanted children & couldn't have them).

Rampantivy
I work (until recently in a large company in london) and know almost no one who is choosing not to have kids.

If you're rich there's nothing to lose is there? If you don't take to child rearing you just have staff to do it for you.

"In my experience the working classes and upper classes breed. The middle classes are more selective about whether to breed or not."

In those countries where men can have up to 3 wives, this is also the sometimes the pattern for multiple wives. Rich men can build 3 houses and poor men can have 3 tents, for those in the middle it's expensive to house 3 wives so they only have one.

Ah - I didn't realise that - but now I do recall hearing about a friend of a friend from the UK who went abroad to do the 'sperm-sorting' method which can help determine sex, so perhaps in the back of my mind I had heard there were restrictions.

I guess Mike T was just lucky that he got his boy on the third go!

I'm not convinced royals have to follow the same rules as us mere mortals. They can also go abroad for fertility treatment if they want.

Three of us and three cousins all have children and those children who are old enough also have children. It's one thing I think is normal about the RF.

I know quite a few people who are childfree by choice or have just one child. I have/had 19 first cousins and I'd say 8 are child free, two have unfortunately passed away.

Inherited wealth or funded by HM. Houses on Royal estate e.g. Sandringham or a house bought for them eg Princess Anne and Gatcombe Park. Charles has Highgrove out of the Duchy of Cornwall. Prob all have a police presence/instant response button. The Nonce lives in Windsor Great Park, some property the Queen owns. So everyone is ok. No real money worries unless you are Andy/Fergie and the schools will paid for through trusts or whatever financial vehicles have been set up. Can have as many or few children as you like with no money issues. Private healthcare via The Queens Physician prob just a phone call away. Can't imagine the Royals down at the GP even if it is Harley St.

I’m one of 17 cousins access both sides of the family - all similar ages to the queens adult grandchildren (grandparents exact same ages as queen etc). All 17 of us have children, # children ranges from 2-4.

In my life I have only ever met two couples have chosen to be child free. But of course a number of my acquaintances I have met through having children so it’s natural I have come across fewer people who have chosen not to have children.

If I was in their position re money and resources ( royal or no royal) I’d have had at least 4 children, probably more. I rather suspect that most of my friends would have, too. As it is the majority of relations and friends have produced only one very cherished child. I know of only one who is child free by choice as the child she had she surrendered for adoption.

Hmmmm I'd never really thought about this but DH is one of 6 siblings.

2 have children, 3 do not have children (ages, 38m, 52m and 57f)

one is sadly deceased.

All my female friends have chosen to have children. We are in our mid thirties and professionals.

I am thinking back and can only think of one womenI have encountered (through work) that chose to not have kids.

In my experience most people do want kids.

I have 2 cousins…46..trying to do the maths 😵‍💫🤣

I'm surprised how many people don't know anyone child free. I know my family is perhaps fairly unusual, of my siblings and cousin's on my dad's side only one out of 7 has children but would have thought that most people had at least one childfree relation. My mum has 7 siblings and 3 are childfree.

Amongst my friends, most of whom I know from early twenties or younger (now mid 40s), I think about 50% are childfree.