Major Differences That Show Meghan & Kate’s Parenting Styles
Whether they're the future Queen consort or the average American mom, every mother has their own methods of parenting and caring for their children. Although both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle married into the British royal family, they've parented the Queen's great-grandchildren in very different ways. From baby strollers to nannies, here are the parenting styles of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, compared.
Kate's Three Children Make Official Appearances
Kate knew that when she married Prince William she would be taking on important duties as part of the British royal family and likely the future Queen consort. The members of the royal family have an incredible amount of official engagements around the world -- around 2,000 each year, including royal tours.
Senior members of the royal family dedicate their lives to be of service to the people of the Commonwealth. While this also includes Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, who are in the line of succession to the British throne, the family tries to keep their lives private while they're still young.
Meghan's Son Archie Is Rarely In The Public Eye
Meghan says that she wants to protect Archie from the negativity she experienced after stepping into the limelight as a member of the British royal family. Prince Harry is also sensitive to negative press and is very protective of Archie and his wife after seeing the press go after his late mother, Princess Diana.
Meghan and Harry have said that they had "no other option" but to step away from the spotlight after welcoming Archie, in order to avoid "intense scrutiny."
Kate's Children Are Close In The Line Of Succession To The Throne
Following Queen Elizabeth II, the next in line to the throne is Prince Charles. Prince William follows him, as second in line to the throne. Next is Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.
It's likely that in his lifetime, Prince William will be given the opportunity to become the king. Just as his grandmother had, he will be prepared for the duties he'll take on, and one day, it's likely that at least one of his kids will do the same.
Archie Is Seventh In Line To The Throne
Prince Harry is sixth in line to the throne, therefore he is highly unlikely to ever be named king. Following him is Master Archie Harrison, seventh in line to the throne. At birth, Archie was not given a royal title, he was designated as "Master" instead.
BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond commented that the decision to forego a royal title was a strong indication that Harry and Meghan did not plan on raising Archie as a formal royal family member. However, in an interview with Oprah that aired in March 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan revealed that "It was not our decision to make" regarding Archie's title.
The Cambridge Children Are British
Born in London, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge has been a member of the British royal family since birth. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge was born in Berkshire, England, with family ties to the British aristocracy. In fact, William and Kate's families were introduced to one another long ago, as far back as 1926.
The couple's three children are from a British background with deep roots. It's expected that the Cambridge children will live in Britain for their entire lives.
Meghan And Harry's Children Are British-American
Prince Harry was born in London and also a member of the British royal family at birth, while Meghan was born in Los Angeles, in the U.S. Together, the couple decided that they wanted to raise their children as a "global citizen."
Archie is officially a citizen of both the United Kingdom and the United States. He lived in England, Canada, and the U.S. during the first year of his life. Today, the family (along with their daughter) resides in the States.
Kate Tries To Give Her Kids A Taste Of "Normal Life"
In interviews, Kate speaks lovingly of her childhood and wants to make sure that her children get to experience some of the "normal" things that other kids get to. She doesn't want them to miss out because of their royal status or her busy schedule.
Parenting expert Cai Graham told Express, "Admittedly, Kate has learned the importance to showing her children a 'normal life', as Diana did so very well, in queuing in theme parks or having the occasional trip to McDonald's!"
Meghan Is Raising Her Children As Private Citizens
Once Meghan and Harry knew they were expecting, discussions began of how they wanted to raise their family. Stepping down as senior royals gives Meghan and Harry an opportunity to be "normal parents" living a more private life, including outside of England.
Without being committed to royal duties as other members of the family are, Meghan's children will be able to live wherever best suits them. However, they are still incredibly famous and will face challenges without the protection of royal security.
The Media Had Easy Access To The Cambridge Children's Christenings
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis were all christened wearing a replica of Queen Victoria's christening gown. The Queen was in attendance for George and Charlotte's christenings, but not for Louis', for unknown reasons.
All of the Cambridge children were christened by The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby. The guest list was limited to the family on both Prince William and Kate's sides and professional photos were taken on the big day for each of the three children.
Archie's Christening Was Also Traditional, But Private
Harry and Meghan's son Archie Harrison had his christening at a private chapel at Windsor Castle. The couple elected to have a private ceremony with 25 guests. Although the Queen was not in attendance, other members of the royal family were, including Prince Charles, Prince William, and Kate.
Like Kate's three children, baby Archie was also christened by The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby. Archie also wore a replica of the Royal Christening Robe. Afterward, an official family photograph was taken and posted on the Sussex Royal Instagram account.
Kate's Silver Cross Balmoral Pram Is The Royal Standard
Priced at $3,999, Kate Middleton has been photographed pushing young Princess Charlotte in a Silver Cross Balmoral Pram. The carriage is described as "the Rolls Royce" of prams.
The vintage carriage prides fashion and luxury over function and practicality, but what more could you expect when selecting a pram for a Princess? The Silver Cross brand has been used by the royal family for more than a century. The Queen herself used to be pushed in one as a baby.
Meghan Broke Family Tradition With A Bugaboo Fox
Rather than follow the royal family tradition of purchasing a Silver Cross pram, Meghan opted for a Bugaboo Fox carriage for baby Archie. The stroller is priced at $1,500 but was a gift that a friend of Meghan's presented to the couple when they were expecting their first child.
The Bugaboo Fox is a practical choice for Meghan and Harry's lifestyle, as the couple enjoying hiking with Archie and their dogs and need a baby stroller that can handle the task. (Pippa Middleton and James have the same one!)
Kate's Favorite Kids' Brands Sell Out In Minutes
As heirs to the throne, Kate's children are expected to dress properly whenever they're out in public. She selects classic outfits for her kids, from brands like Rachel Riley, Amaia Kids, Papouelli, and Pepa & Co.
It's common for kids' jackets and outfits to sell out within minutes after one of the young British royals is spotted wearing them. In 2016, before the birth of Prince Louis, London-based consulting firm Brand Finance estimated that the two eldest royal kids will contribute a combined $7.7 billion to the UK economy during their lifetimes.
Meghan Dresses Archie in H&M
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex went to South Africa, they brought along Archie for his first royal visit. Five-month-old Archie was pictured wearing H&M overalls, priced at just $20. The outfit quickly sold out.
Fans of Meghan and the royal family were amazed at how frugally-dressed Meghan and Prince Harry's son was. When she visited a women's shelter in Cape Town, Meghan brought along with her clothing that Archie had outgrown, to donate.
Kate Middleton's Nanny Graduated From A Top College
In 2014, when Prince George was around six months old, Kate and William hired a nanny to help them. Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo has been working for the family ever since, also caring for Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis without additional assistance. Borrallo graduated from the prestigious Norland College, which offers exceptional child-rearing classes.
Hello magazine reports that she typically sees the kids to and from school, as well as to the park to play. She's also been seen helping with the children at royal weddings.
Kate Is Well Aware That Her Privilege Makes Parenting Easier
Born into an upper-middle-class family and married into the British royal family, the Duchess of Cambridge openly acknowledges that she receives a lot of help and access to child care that the average mother doesn't have the privilege of having.
In an interview with Huffington Post, Kate said, "Personally, becoming a mother has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience. However, at times it has also been a huge challenge, even for me who has support at home that most mothers do not. Nothing can really prepare you for the sheer overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother."
Meghan Is Incredibly Open About Her Struggles With Mental Health
In a surprisingly candid interview with Today, Meghan expressed her personal struggle with maintaining her mental health during early motherhood. She said, "Look, any woman, especially when they're pregnant-- you're really vulnerable. So that was made really challenging. And then, you have a newborn, you know? It's really a lot."
She opened up even more in her famous interview with Oprah in 2021, even admitting that she had suffered from thoughts of self-harm at one point.
Meghan Has Kept Her Nanny's Identity Private
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hired a nanny when Archie was born, but she was let go soon after for a "lapse in professional duties" according to ET. Meghan then found a nanny who has been "a blessing" as the family of three traveled to France and toured South Africa.
Archie's nanny's identity has not been revealed, as Meghan wants to keep her privacy protected. But she trusts her so much that she left then-eight-month-old Archie in her care while she and Harry traveled to the UK to discuss their royal transition with the Queen.
Meghan Hired A Guru For Her Second Pregnancy
During her second pregnancy with baby Lilibet, Meghan hired pregnancy guru Dr. Gowri Motha. Based in London, the doctor helped Meghan through her pregnancy and labor remotely. Her techniques include visualization, massage, yoga, and adopting a vegetarian diet after giving birth. The holistic approach is very much aligned with Meghan's parenting style and core beliefs (she regularly practices yoga and her mom is an instructor).
Dr. Gowri Motha told People about her approach, saying, "I want to introduce visualization techniques, to rehearse the birth in the mother's mind and give them confidence." Dr. Gowri Motha also recommends reflexology and daily massage to mothers post-birth. She's also been hired by Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Kate Teaches Her Kids Gardening and Art
Kate grew up spending a great deal of time with members of her family who taught her helpful skills while building a meaningful relationship. In an interview with Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast with Giovanna Fletcher, Kate said she wanted to provide the same kind of childhood experience for her kids. "I had an amazing Granny who devoted a lot of time to us-- playing with us, doing arts and crafts, and going to the greenhouse to do gardening, and cooking with us."
She continued, "I try and incorporate a lot of the experiences that she gave us at the time into the experiences that I give my children now."
Meghan Loves Cooking for Her Family
Leading up to her first child's birth, a source told ET that Meghan planned to be a very "hands-on, engaged mother." Meghan loves to spend time at home cooking, which is probably part of the reason the couple chose to stay at a friend's Vancouver Island home that boasted a gourmet kitchen.
Meghan's close friend Daniel Martin told Gayle King, "I'm sure the baby's going to be raised clean and green. She loves to cook, eating organic whenever she can. I totally see her marking her own food. Totally!" Meghan also takes Archie on a 1-2 hour walk each day.
The Cambridge Children See Their Grandparents Often
Kate has a close relationship with both of her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. The grandparents of the Cambridge children often stay with the family in Bucklebury, West Berkshire, according to Hello magazine.
Often times, it's the Middletons who watch over the Cambridge children while Kate and William have official engagements to attend or are on a royal tour. Kate is the eldest of three, and the Cambridge children were their first three grandchildren. Kate's younger sister Pippa welcomed her first child six months after Prince Louis was born.
Meghan And Harry Moved To California, Near Meghan's Mom
Meghan's mother Doria Ragland was in London for the birth of her first grandchild. She stayed with Meghan and Harry at Frogmore Cottage for a few weeks to help with baby Archie.
After stepping down as senior royals, Meghan and Harry announced that along with Archie, they would split their time living between North America and Britain. In 2020, the couple began looking for property to buy in Los Angeles, where Archie's grandmother lives. They moved into Tyler Perry's home temporarily before moving to Montecito, outside of Santa Barbara.
