How do you explain all this to a 4, 7 and 9 year old?

[PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog]

William and Kate's children seem so 'normal' for rich and privileged children obs. and the Middletons seem so accessible. How do you explain that your brother will be King, as will your dad and your grandpa is, when your 'other grandpa' mows his own grass etc.? It just all makes it seem even more surreal. I like the history and social role of the monarchy and find the ceremonial of this period very interesting, but it just made me think.

Looking at Andrew and Harry, I don't think the previous two generations managed it particularly well. Hard to see how it's possible to have one special sibling without jealousy. Plus living such a public life.

Everyone's family seems normal to them if they grow up in it?

Thing is, it will always come down to 'they' are better than 'them'. That's what it comes down to, doesn't it? You can't even explain it to an adult without getting round that bit.

I agree I think that Louis is already showing signs of the fact that his role is different to Georges in the same way Andrew and Harry were

For all the Middletons are accessible, they still live a very upper class lifestyle. Their children went to public school and top universities. Their lifestyle probably doesn't relate to the vast majority of the general population.

As for Kate and William's children, they too are also going to the top schools and likely have a similar upbringing to their parents. They will be raised to think of themselves as above the general population.

Did you imagine they wouldn't have known until now? Their parents will have been telling them about it since they were babies.

Just like my daughter knows she has one grandmother who is very friendly and one who is very not.

Normal kids understand the idea of the monarchy and also the idea of parents who cut their own grass. It's not hard to explain they have one of each.

I think you are assuming they would all want to be king / queen? I can imagine that over the generations there have been times of doubt for the intended monarch and a sense of jealousy towards the younger siblings for the relatable freedom they have without the scrutiny of being the future king. Look at Andrew, even before the recent issues he has had a luxurious life of parties and boats without ever being told ‘you’ll be king one day, you can’t be seen to XYZ.’

Urgh, what are you talking about? You think you have insight into the mind of a four year old you've never met but see occasional pictures etc of? Soooo cringey.

I wasn't talking/thinking about inter-sibling dynamics and jealousy, rather the circumstances more broadly. At granny and grandpa Middletons and I presume at home it is I imagine all fish fingers, hide n seek, jammy dodgers etc. At Grandpa Charles' footmen, silver service etc. Your name changes over night and having to go to the funeral/ coronation seeing it all on TV ect.

It’s not about the insight into the mind of a 4 year old but the adults around him

The Middleton's are UMC!

They will have a gardener, housekeeper etc.

I doubt if a fish finger has ever entered their home!

I can’t see Grandpa Middleton cutting his own lawn!

I think you are assuming they would all want to be king / queen? I can imagine that over the generations there have been times of doubt for the intended monarch and a sense of jealousy towards the younger siblings for the relatable freedom they have without the scrutiny of being the future king. Look at Andrew, even before the recent issues he has had a luxurious life of parties and boats without ever being told ‘you’ll be king one day, you can’t be seen to XYZ.’

I always think the younger ones have it far better - all the money and the privilege, but without the responsibility. Then again, I wonder if part of Harry's going his own way is because he (and Meghan) doesn't want to just lie back and count the money without doing anything significant in his/their own right.

Nevertheless, being royal is the ultimate in 'golden child syndrome'. When Charles gave his speech and mentioned William as his heir, I was glad he mentioned Harry soon afterwards. Speaking as the King, William is his only heir; but as a father, he has two equal heirs.

I agree that they would have been told the situation from birth, though. The whole thing about royal life is that it is so very different from other people's lives. My DS can go to school, to a party, to the shops and absolutely nobody cares to the extent that they would want to take photos and videos and report it to the world. With the Cambridge kids, that's a certainty.

It's got to be just what you're used to, I reckon - and there isn't just one single chasm between royal and non-royal. I always used to be astonished (still am!) with Enid Blyton books (yes, I do know they're fiction) when the children always took it for granted that they had a driver, a cook, a maid, a governess etc. (as in specific employees and not their mum and dad) as those kinds of things were just so alien to me. Then again, if I wrote something and commented mundanely about a character popping to the kitchen to get a drink of tap water, there are countless millions of people around the world who would be shocked at my being so nonchalant about (for them) maybe half a day's journey apparently taking half a minute.

I think they will have been told their family set up when they were young. They must be having etiquette training already as they knew how to behave on the balcony, Charlotte especially with her “stand up straight George” comment

Charles knew at 5 he would be king some day. I assume William and George were told at a similar age

While the Middletown will be less formal than the Windsors remember they are still upper middle class so their house will still be more formal than most of ours

@felulageller do you think the different classes actually eat different foods?

The mind boggles.

I don’t think the Middletons are down at Tesco to get oven chips, beans and fish fingers for their grandson, third in line to the throne.

They have grown up in ultra-privileged circs where they have been told that they are 'royalty' since birth so that is what they understand to be true.

Their upbring is anything but normal and the very carefully staged images you see are no indication of what they are really like.

*upbringing

Andrew was the Q's favourite - it's said Charles was jealous of him strangely enough. Harry is free - more so than William - I can also see how he would be jealous of that freedom. Everyone is watching William - he can't make any mistakes. I'm not sure there's much to be envious of.

Google tells me Mr Middleton Mows the lawn so it must be true

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Apparently the Queen used to wash up when at Balmoral and she could change oil on the car. The Middletons are very wealthy and will also have servants. I shouldn't think there is a huge difference between the households.

It will be like any other family where the grandparents are different. My Dds grew up on a farm owned by their grandparents, their other grandparents ran a completely different business and led a different lifestyle. Dds loved both sets of grandparents and just accept them for who they are.