Being a parent is a difficult undertaking, and it is even more difficult when you have to adhere to royal protocol while the entire world is watching! The Duchesses Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are making their way through it all, each with their own distinct style and approach.
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Their every move is scrutinized to the extreme. As members of the British royal family, their actions are frequently dictated by protocol, and it is essential that they portray the monarchy in a positive light. From baby strollers to nannies, here's how Kate Middleton's and Meghan Markle's parenting styles are different from one another.
There are three new members of the royal family, all born to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte. As a member of the British royal family, Kate was well aware that she would be assuming enormous responsibilities, including being the Queen consort should William take the throne.
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The members of the royal family participate in an enormous number of formal engagements around the world – over 2,000 per year, including royal tours – and have a busy schedule. The kids are expected to make some appearances too.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex walked away from the spotlight when they declared that they would step down from their royal duties to protect their children from public scrutiny. Meghan claims she wants to protect Archie from the negative attention she has consistently received after becoming a member of the British royal family.
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They also decided to introduce their son as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor after he was born, leaving out his title. In February 2021, the couple announced that they were expecting their second child.
The line of succession determines who will be the next King or Queen of England, and it is rigid and steeped in royal tradition. Because Prince William is second in line for the monarchy, Prince George, his eldest son, is expected to succeed to the throne in the future.
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Kate Middleton and her children will become members of the governing family when Queen Elizabeth dies. Naturally, all eyes are on the Cambridges to nurture their children according to royal tradition, particularly Prince George, as he will likely be the king one day.
The Sussex family, on the other hand, is under no such pressure as their son Archie is the seventh in the line of succession. Archie does not have a royal title and is referred to as Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. It would take a string of tragedies in the royal family for Archie to take the throne.
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By surrendering their duties, Harry and Meghan also relinquished their titles. Their choice of the name 'Archie' also reflects their willingness to break with royal tradition. It’s clear that these two do not have the throne in mind for the future of their children.
All three of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's children were born in London's St. Mary's Hospital. The siblings are all British citizens because they were born in the United Kingdom. With their parents, they live in Kensington Palace.
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British culture has a stronghold on the kids. The older two are students at Thomas's Battersea Day School and the Hurlingham Club, where they take tennis instruction. Princess Charlotte attends ballet classes at a south London dance school and has been to the Royal Opera House
Meghan was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and Prince Harry was born and grew up in London. Archie holds dual citizenship because his parents are of different nationalities: his father is British, and his mother is American.
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Archie's life has been split between the United States and the United Kingdom up until now, much like his nationality and heritage. He was born in London and spent his first few months of life in Windsor, England, before moving to Vancouver Island, Canada, with his family.
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Kate has spoken fondly of her upbringing in interviews and expressed a desire for her children to have some of the "typical" experiences that other youngsters have. She doesn't want them to be left out due to their royal rank or her hectic schedule.
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However, Prince William has attempted to keep his son's public exposure to a minimum, saying, "I don't want him to grow up within the confines of the castle; he needs to be outside. It's made more difficult by the media, but I'll fight for them to live a regular life."
Meghan and Harry will be able to be "regular parents" and live a more private life outside of England now that they have stepped down as senior royals. Meghan Markle is notorious for keeping her parenting style and her children out of the reach of the media.
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This is most likely due to her and Prince Harry's intention to raise their children as private citizens, with the media and press receiving very little information about their personal lives. They are, nevertheless, still extremely well-known and will confront hurdles in the absence of royal protection.
It is a tradition for all royal offspring to be christened. This practice was upheld by Prince William and Princess Kate. All three princes were baptized in a duplicate of Queen Victoria's baptism gown.
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The Archbishop of Canterbury christened all of the Cambridge children. The details of the christenings of the three children were revealed, including the godparents chosen for the newborns. The couple even followed custom by serving some of the top-tier of their wedding cake, which had been carefully preserved.
