Prince William and Catherine’s Strict Rules FORCED Their Three Children To Do At Home
If you think life as a royal child means lounging on velvet cushions, eating chocolate cake for breakfast, and having footmen polish your Lego bricks, think again.
Inside Adelaide Cottage, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are living proof that even the future king of England can’t escape the dreaded words every child fears: “Time to do your chores.”
Prince William and Princess Catherine may have the titles, the palaces, and the crowns—well, for special occasions—but they’ve made one thing crystal clear: their number one job is raising their three children to be kind, grounded, and capable human beings. That means no special royal exemptions when it comes to house rules.
In fact, Catherine has been known to run the family home like a well-oiled—and occasionally muddy—machine.
“Catherine is very, very natural. She keeps the family down to earth. Home is a safe haven. The children are still expected to muck in at home,” one insider revealed.
And by “muck in,” we’re not talking about delicately arranging flowers or helping polish the silver. We’re talking table setting, plate clearing, toy tidying—the kind of chores every parent uses as character-building tools, and every child considers medieval torture.
Yes, you read that right—Prince George, second in line to the throne, still has to stack his own dishes. Princess Charlotte, the poised royal who melts hearts at balcony appearances, is also expected to pick up her toys before bed. And Louis? Well, Catherine has probably perfected the art of getting a six-year-old to focus for more than 10 seconds with a broom in hand.
Now, if the Wales children thought they could get a reprieve by curling up with a screen, they’d be sorely disappointed. In their household, iPads are officially classified as “Mommy and Daddy’s toys,” not for small hands.
Instead, William and Catherine push for creativity, imagination, and outdoor adventures. The result? Their children are more likely to be found building forts out of sticks than sitting still with a tablet.
“They’re firm believers in toys, outdoor play, and encouraging an active imagination,” says another royal source.
Translation: rain boots are worn often, laundry piles up fast, and nobody cares if the grass stains are stubborn.
And speaking of the outdoors—there are no weather-related excuses in this royal household. Whether it’s sunny skies or classic British drizzle, the Wales children are ushered outside for bike rides, gardening, and games with their dog, Orla.
“If it’s tipping it down, they’ll still go out,” says childcare author Louise Herren. That means George could be planting flowers while Charlotte is splashing in puddles, and Louis is probably attempting to turn one of them into a mud pie.
Here’s where it gets even more surprising: despite their blue blood, the Wales kids can’t negotiate bedtimes, skip naps, or pull the “but I’m royal” card to get out of broccoli at dinner.
Their nanny, Maria Borrallo, is a graduate of the elite Norland College—famous for producing nannies who can handle everything from toddler tantrums to state banquets. Maria, along with William and Catherine, runs a tight ship.
Bedtime is at 7:00 p.m. sharp. Naps are non-negotiable. And new foods are introduced regularly. Sorry, kids—no living off chocolate biscuits alone.
This structured approach isn’t just about discipline. It’s about preparing them for the high-pressure moments that come with royal life.
“As they step off planes, holding mom’s hand, smiling and waving to the crowds, there can’t be any crying or tantrums,” Herren explains. Which is probably why the kids are kept on a consistent schedule, even on exciting days.
And if you’re wondering whether being royal means you get to skip homework for glamorous events, think again. When William and Catherine attended Mary Poppins at the London Palladium in 2019, the kids weren’t there. Why? Because it was a school night. Catherine reportedly told the cast, “The rule is not on a school night.”
So, while George may one day wear the crown, for now he’s more likely to be wearing rubber gloves at the sink. Charlotte, the princess with a wave that melts hearts, is also the princess who gets told to clear her plate. And Louis? He’s learning that even in a royal household, toys don’t put themselves away.
In other words, the future of the monarchy is being raised with equal parts privilege and parental grounding—and perhaps just a touch of dish soap.
At their house, the Waleses also revealed that they sit very firmly on one side of arguably the most divisive sleeping rule debate in history—and it might just cause them some problems with the upcoming heatwave, which is set to be the biggest of summer 2025 so far.
Following his conversation during a visit to Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, William said that their little dog sleeps on the bed at night with him and Catherine. The prince pointed out how soft her ears were and that the British royal gave her lots of affection.
In a monthly recap, the future King and Queen released memorable highlights from their lives, including Prince William’s tribute to his late mother and Prince George’s 12th birthday celebration.
Despite Princess Catherine’s ongoing struggle with a chronic illness, the couple has gracefully cherished every royal occasion.
