Prince William And Kate Middleton Snub One of Charles’ Big Traditions for the Sake of Their Kids
Prince William and Kate Middleton have begun shaping their vision for a modern monarchy. The Prince and Princess of Wales have reportedly started taking independent decisions, aligned with their forward-looking approach. Most recently, William and Middleton broke a major household tradition by choosing not to disclose the specific roles of their household staff in the financial report for the Sovereign Grant. The Prince of Wales also opted not to reveal his tax, reportedly to protect the privacy of his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
The Sovereign Grant is an annual payment from the government to the monarch, intended to fund the King’s official duties, such as royal engagements and travel expenses. A small detail in the latest financial report revealed that William and Middleton differed from King Charles' more public approach. They were less transparent about their household staff, stepping back from the level of disclosure previously established by the King. As reported by Tyla, the Prince and Princess of Wales have three young children and may wish to maintain a degree of privacy before William eventually takes to the throne. Their decision not to be as open as Charles about taxes and staffing reflects this desire for greater discretion.
King Charles has always ensured that full details regarding his royal staff, including butlers, housekeepers, gardeners, and chefs, were made public. Meanwhile, the Waleses disclosed only the total number of staff working for them, listed as 68, without specifying individual roles. The financial report noted that the royal family carried out more than 1,900 public engagements across the U.K. and abroad. It also revealed that the royal train will be decommissioned ahead of the current contract's expiration in March 2027. According to official legislation, the financial report is reviewed every five years to ensure the royals receive an 'appropriate' level of funding. The grant has remained at £86.3 million ($111 million) for the fourth year.
As per GB News, William and Middleton reside in Adelaide Cottage with their children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, in an effort to be away from the public eye. Although they employ nannies, the Prince and Princess prefer a more hands-on approach to parenting. The couple regularly manage school runs for George, Charlotte, and Louis, though their demanding schedules occasionally require staff assistance. Compared to the monarch, the Waleses have fewer live-in staff, reflecting their wish to give their children a grounded and normal upbringing.
Royal expert Richard Palmer explained William and Middleton's interesting approach to safeguarding their kids' privacy. As reported by Cambridge News, he revealed that the Prince of Wales' staff at Kensington Palace, "have built strong relationships with editors and specialist reporters, and often use softer negotiating skills, understandings or, if necessary, legal warnings to try to keep intrusive stories out of the mainstream media." The expert added, "Behind the scenes, Prince William is waging a more subtle battle to protect his family from media intrusion." Reportedly, the Waleses also maintain a strict ‘zero-tolerance policy’ on ‘gossip' among staff to protect their children’s privacy.