Kate Middleton’s hope for Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to avoid becoming ‘spares’ like Harry
Ex-BBC royal correspondent Jenne Bond has shared what top two royals Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis should look up to as successful role models following a royal parade earlier this year
Kate Middleton is likely to encourage Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis “to explore life outside the royal fold” in the hopes that they avoid becoming a ‘royal spare’, according to an expert.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has shared her thoughts on the Cambridges’ views on parenting. And has likened their kid’s chances to being as successful as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. It comes after Prince Edward, 60, and Sophie, 59, proved again that they are truly seen as assets to the King after they carried out a historic ceremony on behalf of the monarch. The pair marked 120 years of positive relations between Britain and France with an eventful parade back in April.
Jennie believes the royal pair are “excellent role models” for Charlotte and Louis because they can see how to be successful whilst being the ‘spare’ to the throne. Speaking about why Prince Edward and Charlotte have proved themselves to other royals, Jennie said: “They have always been quietly devoted to their various causes, but their work has been overshadowed by other royals.
Kate is well aware of how royal spares can feel, according to the expert ( Image: Getty Images)
“I suppose every cloud has a silver lining… and as the King calls on them to take a more prominent role, Edward and Sophie are showing they are very much up to the task. They are also serving as excellent role models to their great nephews and niece – showing that you can be a ‘spare’ or even a ‘spare to the spare’ and make a real success of working as a valued member of the Royal Family.”
The ‘spare to the heir’ is a well-known royal phrase, and while there have been many famous spares throughout history, including the late Queen’s father, King George VI, the word is now synonymous with Prince Harry’s controversial memoir. It is a position which has notoriously come with question marks attached as the royal struggles to carve out a life for themselves in the shadow of the crown, reports OK!
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh would make great expert, said the royal expert ( Image: Getty Images)
But among the many benefits of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ preference for gentle parenting directed by what Kate has learned from her studies of early years education, it is clear that the couple will be striving to normalise their younger children’s lives with the hope that they never feel like working as royals is their only option. “William and Kate must be acutely aware of the problems for a royal spare”, Jennie explains.
“They have already shown that they have a different and modern attitude to bringing up royal children and I’m sure they will do everything to make Charlotte and Louis feel every bit as special, loved and valued as George. I imagine they will encourage Louis to explore life outside the royal fold… it could be the military, but it could also be working in the charity world or whatever he finds appealing after his education is finished. I’m sure they will encourage him to go to University, which they both enjoyed and where, of course, they found love.
“And from there they will want him to find a life that is meaningful to him as well as appropriate for the son of a future King. They will try to ensure that he feels he is living a life of value, irrespective of his place in the line of succession and that will probably involve service of some kind as they have emphasised from the start that they want their children to understand that having empathy with others is not only a kindness, but is rewarding as well.”
Charlotte and Louis can look up to the royal pair ( Image: INSTAGRAM)
The parents are likely to encourage them to explore life outside of the royal fold ( Image: Getty Images)
While Prince Edward is a key supporter of the arts and is carrying on his late father’s work with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, Sophie is an important advocate for gender equality, raising awareness against female genital mutilation (FGM) and the prevention of avoidable blindness. When the pair are not carrying out engagements or representing the King, they live at Bagshot Park near the Windsor Estate with their two children – Lady Louise Windsor, 20, and James, Earl of Wessex, 16, – when they are not away at university or school.
