Princess Kate will be aware of the potential difficulties facing Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as they will not be given the same treatment as their older brother and the heir Prince George.
The children’s uncle Prince Harry famously found it hard to come to terms with being labelled the ‘spare’, as detailed extensively in his memoir of the same name.
But as a keen proponent of the importance of early years education Kate will know just how to make her children feel valued and help them understand that royal life is not their only option.
Royal expert Jennie Bond told OK! magazine: “William and Kate must be acutely aware of the problems for a royal spare. 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.
She added: “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.”
Both Charlotte and Louis may be encouraged to pursue their own careers outside royal service, as one source claims they are not lined up to become working royals.
A source told the Daily Mail: “The working assumption is that the younger two children will get on and do their own thing. They will be encouraged to not become working royals.”
King Charles has long been keen to promote a slimmed-down version of the working monarchy, with Prince William also apparently keen to follow in his father’s footsteps- in spite of the number of working royals already falling due to old age and ill health.
Royal author Christopher Andersen told the Daily Beast that several may worry that “once he [King Charles] is no longer in the picture, a King William V will take his plans for modernisation several steps too far”.
Not everyone in the Royal Family agrees with these plans however, as Princess Anne made her feelings clear during an interview with CBC shortly before the King’s Coronation last year.
She alluded to the departure of Harry and Prince Andrew from the working family fold as she pointed out: “I think the ‘slimmed-down’ (monarchy) was said in a day when there were a few more people around to make that seem like a justifiable comment.
“I mean, it doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I have to say. I’m not quite sure what else, you know, we can do.
