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!

what is Kate and William’s secret?

Money 😂 is it that much of a mystery?

They have nannies that attend to their every whim and parents that don't have 9-5s and aren't stretched.

See also fully staffed household where no cooking and cleaning is required 🙄

It's what they do. They're used to it. Lots of repetition and training and expectations.

Plus staff, nannies and routine.

Just like you train puppies.

Oh I literally just said this 😂

Jesus, that’s a nauseating title OP.

"Although mine do comment on/complain about other children with bad behaviour!"

I hope you are at least teaching them to do that quietly. I have come across a few rude children making loud comments about my son who is severely disabled.

But William and Harry and also Charles were wealthy children and had shit childhoods because they had shit, absent parents. William and Catherine have been clear that they’re far more involved in the lives of their own children.

Lots of normal people have nannies, it’s only ever seen as being ‘raised by a nanny’ with upper class people which is pretty unfair. We are getting a nanny shortly to do school runs and holidays, I am not upper class and I still raise my own childrenS

As well as school they will do activities where they are expected to listen eg music lessons and ballet.
Pre primary ballet is very much standing in line, following instructions etc.
Mine’s a teen now and fondly says her strict headmistress at her private primary school and ballet teacher were a big influence on her.
Plus lots of experiences like theatre and church services so they know what is expected.
I sometimes had comments about where I was taking DD eg she went to watch the ballet at 4 (a matinee but full length performance) but she behaved. Library, museums, stately homes etc.
Lots seem to have a oh they are only little, it doesn’t matter type attitude or avoid taking them places. But at some point they tip into being old enough to know better but if no one has taught them it sets them up for failure.
Very awkward family funeral where mine was well behaved (and did a reading) - older children than her laughing and messing about. They were told off by a relative and it caused a fall out - how dare she tell them off but I agreed with her and if I’d have been sat in that side would have told them to shush too.

Our kids sat through Carol concerts by 3/4 years. I think most can.

Maybe we should get our kids together? We could sit through a short service, people would go absolutely crazy for my kids. They can sit through a whole ballet without me juggling snacks and toys and performing like a clown. Because they’re average and normal children.

I wonder what they think a year 4 assembly looks like if they think it’s unthinkable that children of this age would ever be able to sit normally for a short period of time.

It is not difficult to understand is it? They have norland nannies from day one as well, not Glenda from no 52, who does childminding as a side hustle.

How do they teach their family that it’s best behaviour always

Because it’s not always. They get ample opportunity to let off steam, run around, play. They’re expected to be on best behaviour a couple of times a year.

My eldest, at 12, would sit through something like that from the same age as George and Charlotte.

My youngest, at 5, has suspected ADHD and would need ear defenders, distractions and would still get bored after 10 minutes.

They've been parented the same way. Sometimes it's parenting, sometimes it's the children but most of the times it is a mix of both.

A mixture of personality/genetics (William is from a long line of people, whose exact job it has been for hundreds of years is to sit quietly with a neutral expression. Kate married into the family knowing and embracing the role. If she knew she was unsuited to it - didn't have the personality for it - she'd have chased someone else), training, bribery and threats.

They are trained and they live a life free of illness, poverty and have everything they could ever desire.

This.

I’m one of 6. All perfectly behaved.

We all knew we’d get whipped once home if we weren’t PLUS none of us had a neurodiversity that could over ride that fear.

So I do smile at the sycophantic “they must be amazing parents” posts.

I’m not saying they get the whip like my siblings and me, but I would just say - never assume perfect behaviour is perfect parenting.

Off the top of my head, I can remember Charlotte dancing a jig with rage and doing a sit down protest beside a plane, Charlotte sticking out her tongue at photographers at a sporting event when she was asked to wave, Charlotte yelling "You're not invited!" at photographers outside a christening, George sticking his tongue out at photographers from inside a car, Louis hitting his mother on the head when asked to behave and so pulling faces, Louis glowering at photographers outside the church on Christmas day.

They seem very normal to me!

Their normal good behaviour is commendable but nothing that my kids wouldn't do, to be honest. They clearly come from a calm home where they're given lots of opportunity to relax and blow off steam, but also understand the importance of behaving at the right times as they grow older.

I don't agree it's to do with money either. Unlike the royals, I come from a long line of poor people. Your behaviour and cleanliness mattered, because your parents/g parents had to prove they were worth something and were worried about being judged.

A life free of illness? They go to school! I'm sure they don't!

My kids could be relied on to behave - we just told them what we expected of them and it wasn't a problem.

You can be raised by your parents and still have a nanny...

Mine aren't beautifully behaved all the time but they do really like each other. I think that helps. You can see that George has a compliant personality and Charlotte, now she is older, has a desire to do the right thing in public, as she sees her mother doing. They pull together to behave and you can see from the eye contact between them that they're doing it together, as friends. They've got a good thing going but I hope we don't continue to see them as much as we have over the last year. There have been an awful lot of events for them to perform at.

Honestly we see what we want to see. Only a few months ago posters were RAGING about Prince Louis' behaviour at the jubilee parade. Remember?

Those children seem pretty normal to me but with a huge amount of input.

Sorry, haven't read the full thread, but they have a Norland nanny, attend a gorgeous private school big on manners, and they are royalty so will have been trained since they were in nappies to be wonderfully behaved in public! Mine would also be v well behaved with that background!

(Don't know how they've grown them so tall though! Could do with some tips as my 11 year old is still teeny weeny and gets treated like he's 8! Even though we have tall genes in the family!! Maybe more milk? 🙂)

@Reindeersnooker ?

Or is there a different one? I mean, it’s not enormously polite but she was only just three, it certainly isn’t yelling!