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Comparing Meghan Markles' 'Modern Approach' to Parenting to Kate Middleton Who Tends to 'Stick to Tradition'

Esther NJeri
Jun 15, 2022
01:30 P.M.

Prince William and Prince Harry grew up in the royal home under the same parenting rules, yet they chose different parenting approaches for their children.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton always wanted kids and were ecstatic when they welcomed home their three beautiful babies, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

They have always been candid about their parenting journey and why they chose to deviate from the royal way of raising their kids.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Catherine, and Princess Charlotte watch the RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Color parade on June 02, 2022, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Catherine, and Princess Charlotte watch the RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Color parade on June 02, 2022, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

While the royals are renowned for having a "stiff upper lip," Middleton and William have moved away from that mentality, instead choosing open communication with their children, even as they set boundaries and rules for them.

Their goal is to raise their children to express their emotions and ask questions, which they believe will help them grow up as healthy adults.

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Despite growing up in one of the most respected families worldwide, William and Middleton do not spoil their children with gifts. They instead choose to teach them the value of respect, kindness, and honesty.

Kate Middleton and Prince Louis watch the Platinum Jubilee Pageant from the Royal Box during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on June 05, 2022, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Kate Middleton and Prince Louis watch the Platinum Jubilee Pageant from the Royal Box during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on June 05, 2022, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Middleton disclosed that she grew up learning the importance of those qualities and wants her children to know the same, which she says is just as important as excelling in sports or math.

They also disclosed that they prefer a more calm approach towards pointing out their children's mistakes, then outlining the child's behavior without raising their voice.

These practical approaches to parenting appear effective as the Cambridge children are always well behaved during public occasions and royal visits, evident during The Queen's Jubilee celebration.

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Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in the carriage procession at Trooping the Colour during Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee on June 02, 2022 in London, England | Source: Getty Images

Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in the carriage procession at Trooping the Colour during Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee on June 02, 2022 in London, England | Source: Getty Images

The three remained surprisingly calm as they rode down the Mall in a carriage with thousands of well-wishers screaming and cheering their names.

They rode across from their mother and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. According to the Mirror, even as happy chaos swirled around them, Middleton kept interjecting her voice — obviously one of the most familiar ones the kids know — to keep them calm.

HARRY'S THOUGHTS ABOUT FATHERHOOD

Prince Harry loves being and has always wanted to be a dad. He became one when he and his wife, Meghan Markle, welcomed their first child, Archie, in May 2019 and their second, Lilibet, in June 2021.

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Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at Billingbear Polo Club on July 10, 2019 in Wokingham, England. | Source: Getty Images

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at Billingbear Polo Club on July 10, 2019 in Wokingham, England. | Source: Getty Images

Since welcoming his kids, Harry has appreciated the responsibility that comes with fatherhood. Speaking to Hoda Kotb, he mused about how easy it was to be wrapped up in other things when someone is not a parent. Asked what he loved most about fatherhood, he said:

"All of it. The chaos, the learning, the reminder of just every element of yourself, your soul."

However, he also shared that being a dad has kept him on his toes as Archie asks all the questions and remains unrelenting until his father answers them. The duke shared that he always tries to give the most honest answer possible.

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Besides raising his two adorable kids, Harry also holds another responsibility — one that involves him making the world a better place for the sake of his children.

Despite being a royal, Harry takes on his daddy responsibilities seriously, taking over diaper duties, burping, and cleaning up after his children without his wife asking him.

It also became apparent that Markle is a doting mom to her son after Katie Nicholl, who has written numerous biographies on the royal family, disclosed that Markle and Harry had dismissed Archie's nanny for being unprofessional days after hiring her.

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She shared that reliable sources had said Markle had been nursing her son at night, feeding him on demand every few hours.

CAMBRIDGE VERSUS SUSSEX PARENTING TECHNIQUES

While Harry and William were raised under the same rules and protocol, their parenting is as different as chalk and cheese.

While Markle reportedly takes on a more modern approach, Middleton tends to remain more traditional. Markle is said to trust more in her decisions and has paved her parenting path.

Kate Middleton, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte attend the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022 in London, England | Source: Getty Images

Kate Middleton, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte attend the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022 in London, England | Source: Getty Images

From choosing a birth plan to shying away from the royal tradition of taking photos of their children after leaving the hospital, Markle prefers parenting her children in her own way.

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And while both parents prefer privacy for their children, Markle has made it a priority. She and Harry also choose to parent without an army of staff.

Parenting expert, Jumaimah Hussain, explained that Markle and Harry's relocation to the US meant in part that they would go out of their way to protect their children and remove any obstacle from the little ones' lives.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex holds her baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor at a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa | Source: Getty Images

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex holds her baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor at a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa | Source: Getty Images

On the other hand, Middleton seems to prefer a more traditional approach, following age-old child-birth protocols. After birthing her children, she stood in for photos with her newborns, as has been the norm for years.

However, despite not shying away from protocol, she has also paved her path, choosing to handle her children's misunderstandings differently than the stoic technique used by the royals in the past.

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PARENTING STRUGGLES THAT WILLIAM AND MIDDLETON FACE

While parenting has never been easy, there is a struggle that many parents deal with — limiting screen time for their children. And the Cambridges are no exception.

Prince Louis of Cambridge 'thumb's his nose' and sticks his tongue out at his mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge as they attend the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Prince Louis of Cambridge 'thumb's his nose' and sticks his tongue out at his mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge as they attend the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

The couple expressed their frustration saying that while Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are too young to game, they loved films.

On the other hand, Prince George enjoys gaming, forcing William and Middleton to regulate screen time. Another parenting challenge they faced was homeschooling during the lockdown.

Prince Louis of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 2, 2022 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Prince Louis of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 2, 2022 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

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Middleton disclosed that homeschooling her children was one of the most complex parts of parenting during the pandemic. Hello! reports the duchess to have said:

"We've had to become a teacher — and I think, personally, I feel pulled in so many different directions, and you try your best with everything, but at the end of the day, I do feel exhausted."

The mother of three also shared how difficult it is getting her kids ready for school, a task that many non-parents underestimate. She has also had to deal with the least-talked-about issue of mom guilt.

Middleton shared that given her hands-on nature in raising her kids, she would often feel guilty when her older children asked her why she did not drop them off at school or undertake other activities with them as is the norm.

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