To wonder how the Cambridge children are so beautifully behaved?

[surreysarah]

They sat through the Christmas carol concert so perfectly, and are just so incredibly well behaved when on public outings. They seem delightful and are always so well turned out. As a mum myself, I can’t help wondering - what is Kate and William’s secret? Kudos to the both of them, because they always seem to keep the children in check, but they do it in such a lovely and understated way. They are clearly both naturals with children, because there is no way my unruly brood would be that well behaved at a carol concert. Parenting goals and then some!

They've been trained to be

You saw Louis at the Jubilee?!

Did you not see Louis at the Jubilee!?? They aren’t always perfect.

How do you train children at that age to sit through a long and boring carol concert though? I didn’t even think it was possible? Kate and William seem like lovely parents.

I've definitely seen their kids acting up. Just like all kids. I imagine their parents are very strict.

Louis is a little terror and I love him. I say terror in the Royal sense - a perfectly normal child.

They've been trained to be 'perfect' for the cameras.

@mumsnet please move this to the royal family section.

I did, but that was literally the only time ever that I’ve seen any misbehaving - and even then it wasn’t that bad! Kate handled it very well.

Is that you, Harry?

They're normal children and you only see glimpses. My kids could sit through mass at 3/4 (thanks granny) for an hour. You bribe them with food / toys / whatever you have.

I don't think it's that shocking that they behave well. Charlotte and George aren't toddlers.

I always think how normal they are to be honest, which is really nice.

I think George is genuinely a placid and compliant child.

There are photographs of Kate telling toddler Charlotte off.

Louis is a scamp - very much the indulged baby of the family.

Why?

It’s probably possible with a bag of distractions, I’ve used that technique myself! But I’ve never seen Kate hand the kids a colouring book or a bag of snacks ever!

I read somewhere once that the parenting/discipline style they use is to never shout and to sit the children down and calmly discuss their behaviour and making better choices etc (I think that’s what it was).

Depending on each child’s personality it may work well so that the child is not frequently in a heightened state of emotions and therefore likely to keep acting up even more. How often does shouting at a child make them behave appropriately most of the time? It’s like throwing petrol on a smouldering fire and not expecting an eruption.

Easier said than done of course.

There will be a deal with the press about what type of photos are shown. Were they beautifully behaved 100% of the carol concert? Or just in the bits that you were shown by the media? 🤷‍♀️

They have been trained since birth and their school work to enforce that.

Because what you (we) are fed by the media is absolute BS!
They absolutely behave at times like any other child. But we are only shown the 'perfect' version. Or their 'misbehaving is endering' narrative.
Not that anyone will ever get a public convo from them but I'm certain Kate/wills think their kids are little shitbags at times like the rest of us 🤣

Maybe your kids are just badly parented/poorly behaved. Most children at upper primary age can sit nicely for a service or assembly type of thing. It’s really not exceptional and is unremarkable.

Well trained not just by family by also nannies, tutors, courtiers etc.
An expectation from birth of what their roles are.
They are pretty normal imo. My DC don’t need bribing not to misbehave in public.

Presumably they are used to going to church regularly and sitting in school assembly.
The older 2 are junior school age. I recall taking mine to a church funeral at that age and people commenting how well behaved she was but she was used to it.

Look, the kids are brought out in public when they are judged capable of doing so. Dependent on the event and seniority. So George is expected to do a bit more as he’s 2ndin line. I bet there was much discussion about Louis going to the Jubilee, he was expected to be there, it was a ‘kid friendly’ event but too long for a 4yr old when you can’t bribe them with fruit shoots, Haribo and iPads because the world is watching. He played up a bit - I thought it was adorable and makes them personable as parents, I warmed to them. But there was also a fair bit of criticism about their parenting/his behaviour online and I’ll get its a while before he goes to a formal event again.

They’re kids - they play up at home, like every other kid, but know how to behave in public. Like my 13yr old knows some of the behaviour I tolerate at home would not be tolerated at his grandparents over Christmas. You don’t need to hero worship them.

That does make sense I must admit - does anyone else use this approach and have you had success with it? I try my best to but like you say, it’s often easier said than done!