Prince George, Charlotte, and Louis Are Growing Up with the Kind of Normal Childhood Their Dad Always Wished For

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and little Prince Louis have just kicked off another school year. Back in early September, the three kids of Prince William and Kate Middleton headed to Lambrook School, and this one’s extra special—it’s likely their last full year all together there.

Big changes are on the horizon for the Wales family. They’ve already made a major move recently, settling into a new home after some really tough times. But through it all, William seems dead set on one thing: making sure his children have the stable, private upbringing he missed out on as a kid.

The summer was pretty low-key for George, Charlotte, and Louis—they stayed mostly out of the public eye with their parents. They probably spent a lot of it at Anmer Hall, their cozy spot in Norfolk. George and Charlotte even tagged along to the Wimbledon finals with William and Kate in July, but Louis, at just seven, was deemed a bit too young for that one. He’s fourth in line to the throne, right behind his dad and siblings, and his last big outing was a church service near Balmoral in Scotland late August.

Before that, he was the star of the show (as usual) at Trooping the Colour in June, pulling faces and keeping everyone entertained.

With summer wrapped up, William and Kate are easing back into royal duties, and the kids are settled at school. This year marks the end of an era at Lambrook for the siblings—George, who’ll turn 13 soon, is expected to head off to Eton College next fall.

No one knows exactly how much George understands about his future role as second in line, but William and Kate are taking their time easing him—and the others—into it all. They’ve clearly taken notes from what happened with Harry, who felt labeled as the “spare,” and they’re determined not to let birth order define their kids differently.

As royal expert Jennie Bond put it, William’s all about building that grounded, private family life he didn’t really have growing up. He’s even talked about doing royalty with a “small r”—keeping things more relaxed and real.

That’s why their recent move feels so fitting. The family has left behind the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage, where they lived since 2022, and shifted to the bigger, eight-bedroom Forest Lodge on the Windsor estate. It came after some incredibly hard years, including Kate’s cancer battle and recovery.

A source close to them said Windsor feels like home now, but Adelaide held too many tough memories. This new spot gives them a clean slate—a fresh chapter they’re calling their “forever home,” even planning to stay there long-term, including when William eventually becomes king.

Just like before, no live-in staff, to keep things as normal and private as possible. They’re handling the renovations themselves too.

It’s clear William and Kate are prioritizing a more down-to-earth vibe for their kids than what traditional royals often get. What do you think— are they striking the right balance?