Kate's seven rules of royal parenting

The Princess of Wales is using the lessons she has learnt as a leading voice for childhood development to give her own family the best start in life

- REBECCA RUSSELL 

After all the excitement of Christmas, many parents are eagerly welcoming the return of some much-needed structure as their children go back to school – and the Prince and Princess of Wales are no different.

Fresh from their festive celebrations at Anmer Hall, Sandringham, the couple are preparing to send Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, back to Lambrook School to begin a new term.

As order is restored for the royals, so too is the task of juggling work and family life. They are able to maintain a calm and happy household thanks, in part, to Kate’s sharp focus on early years development.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes it is Kate’s understanding of a more contemporary style of parenting that makes their children so well adjusted and well behaved.

“The whole ethos of early development is something that a lot of parents are learning alongside Kate, because it’s quite a radical new way of parenting,” she says.

“It is an idea built on mutual respect, understanding, patience and allowing the child to lead the way. Very often, it is about exploring the child’s own feelings, confusions and anguish.

“Kate will very much be the leader in this and William will be the follower. He will have been learning from her how to be a different kind of parent.”

The princess, who celebrates her 42nd birthday on 9 January, has become one of the leaders in this field.

Her Shaping Us campaign, launched a year ago this month, highlights the critical importance of early childhood in creating the adults we become.

“The way we develop, through our experiences, relationships and surroundings during our early childhood, fundamentally shapes our whole lives,” she said at the launch of the campaign.