Prince William and Kate Middleton's modern parenting style sets a new Royal standard

Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales have adopted "a very different way of bringing up" their children, according to a Royal expert, marking a significant departure from traditional Royal upbringing.

Jennie Bond, the former BBC Royal correspondent, revealed to OK! that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's modern parenting style makes them "far more relatable, and far more 'normal'" compared to other members of the Royal family.

She expressed: "It's all very well to repeat the royal mantra that 'duty' is paramount. But if you ask any 'ordinary' folk about their priorities. I have absolutely no doubt that almost 100% would say family. Family is what counts beyond anything."

Jennie also observed that Kate has been influenced by her own parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, in her softer approach to raising Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, ensuring they are "wrapped in a bubble of love", reports the Mirror.

She continued: "The late Queen had huge responsibilities when she was a young mother becoming monarch, as she did, when she was just 25. Charles and Diana were preoccupied to an extent by the mess their marriage had become, and like most children from a broken family, William and Harry felt the repercussions."

"Perhaps feeling out of his depth as single dad, Charles retreated too often into his study to deal with his workload when he might have been better off kicking a football around with his boys."

Jennie further explained that Kate's parenting style was influenced by her own upbringing, stating she was "replicating" her "own happy, stable childhood". This included a softer approach of "never shouting, always listening to their complaints and tantrums, and allowing them to freely express their feelings and anger."

Moreover, Jennie highlighted the stark contrast between this and the traditional Royal approach. She suggested that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's method allowed their children to be "enveloped in a bubble of love", which could have "significant" future benefits.

It provides a more balanced perspective on life and fosters a "long and loving relationship with their parents."

The parenting approach of the Cambridges is markedly different from that of the late Queen Elizabeth and her son, King Charles, who prioritised his work over his young children.

Despite this, Prince William holds no grudges against his parents for their choices. He respects his father's commitment to his duties, as disclosed in Royal correspondent Robert Jobson's new book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, currently being serialised in the Daily Mail.

However, the Prince of Wales acknowledges that his father's work-centric approach negatively affected him during his formative years and strained their relationship.

Charles' commitment to his Royal duties reportedly left Princes William and Harry feeling somewhat neglected in their youth. In contrast, William has been determined to be an involved father, often seen demonstrating a warm relationship with his son George, as noted by author Robert.

He is intent on ensuring his children have a childhood filled with love, a sentiment Kate wholeheartedly supports. According to Robert, William's bond with Charles has strengthened, particularly since Harry began levelling criticisms from across the pond in California.

Kate, for her part, has made it clear that her children are her top priority, insisting on taking full maternity leave out of the spotlight.

The Queen and then-Prince Charles were quite supportive of her decision, especially during her pregnancy with Princess Charlotte in 2015.

Robert shares that the Queen, mindful of Princess Diana's feelings of alienation, was eager to ensure Kate felt included, finding that her grandson was already on the same page: "Princess Diana had repeatedly expressed to the Queen that she always felt like an outsider, and the monarch did not want history to repeat itself with Catherine," he penned. "It turned out he was pushing against an open door."