THE (Surprisingly) Normal Side William Kate

Just like Us! The future king and queen of England go on date nights, have relatable parenting moments and binge-watch their favorite shows. Royal experts reveal their 'refreshing' low-key approach to life

- JAIME HARKIN

They seemed like any other couple in love. In May 2021, in a small fishing village in Scotland, Prince William and Princess Kate sat on a bench and ate $10 fish-andchips from Anstruther Fish Bar, a shop they frequented back when they were students at St. Andrews. Afterward, they headed to a nearby ice cream shop for dessert, then took a stroll around the seaside town, occasionally stopping to talk to locals. "There were no official cameras around," writes Robert Jobson in his new book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales: A Biography of the Future Queen. “It was, royal aides explained later, just an impromptu break. Once again, consciously or not,” added Jobson, “it showed William and Catherine’s normalcy.”

When most people think of the Prince and Princess of Wales, both 42, they picture them looking glamorous and buttoned-up on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside William’s father, King Charles III, or dutifully attending one of many royal events. But behind the scenes, the parents of three (Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6) are a lot like everyone else: William and Kate do school drop-offs and play referee when the kids bicker; as a family they enjoy game nights and watch movies together. When the future king and queen of England manage to score some alone time, they turn on Netflix and order takeout. Despite titles and tiaras, Kate still shops at the local supermarket. “They are quite refreshing,” Jobson tells Us. “At their core, they are very much a normal family.”

Quality Time