- How do the British royal children grow up?
How do the British Royal Children Grow Up?The new TV film "England's Royal Children: Duty and Rebellion" (August 6, 8:15 PM, ZDF Royal Series) explores this question. Annette von der Heyde reveals lesser-known details about the childhood of King Charles III (75), heir apparent Prince William (42), and his children, Prince George (11), Princess Charlotte (9), and Prince Louis (6).
Marion Crawford, Barbara Barnes, and Maria Borrallo - Important Nannies of the British Princes
A particularly touching scene shows three-year-old Prince Charles at a train station, greeting his parents, Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) and Prince Philip (1921-2021), after a multi-week trip, along with his grandmother, Queen Mum (1900-2002), and many officials. The images show a three-year-old who seems unsure of what to do, wandering around the adults. He is greeted by his mother with a handshake.
In total, five adults cared for young Charles, not including his parents. Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret (1930-2002), also grew up with a nanny - Marion Crawford (1909-1988), who published a book of insider information after her tenure. A private tutor taught Elizabeth and Margaret in the castle, and the two girls could only play with each other. At first, the future succession was not foreseen, as the brother of their father ascended the throne.
Diana Also Had a Nanny for Her Sons
The film also addresses the fact that Princess Diana (1961-1997) had nannies care for her sons William and Harry (39) in a proper manner. Diana reportedly became so jealous of the close relationship between the children's nanny, Barbara Barnes, and her two sons that the collaboration ended when William was four years old. "The nanny wasn't even allowed to say goodbye," the film states.
Moreover, young William had to attend official press events every year. There's a touching scene in the film where the boy cries in front of the assembled press after a ski holiday because his parents and brother have already gone down the slope, and he doesn't know how to follow. A large British tabloid newspaper then ran the headline: "Wills the wimp."
How Normal Do George, Charlotte, and Louis Grow Up?
"A journalist in the film says, 'I think it's impossible for the youngest generation of royals to grow up normally. They have one foot in the present and one in the past. It's like a time travel.' Yet, the parents of George, Charlotte, and Louis seem to be doing their best to let them grow up as normally as possible.
William and his wife, Princess Kate (42), live with their children on the outskirts of the royal park of Windsor Castle in Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom house without staff. The three attend the same school, live at home - William was sent to boarding school at eight - and have many playdates with their school friends.
However, there is a nanny in this family: Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. "William and Kate initially didn't want a nanny. They wanted to take care of their children themselves, but Queen Elizabeth told them they needed help, and she was right," explains royal expert Katie Nicholl. The Spanish-born Borrallo graduated from the prestigious Norland College and has worked for William and Kate since 2014. She is part of the family but does not live in the cottage.
Crucial to the much closer parent-child relationship in the youngest generation of royals is Kate. She has introduced a new style of parenting her royal children. The British call it "the Middleton method" and mean a bourgeois family life, as explained in the film.
Fourth Film in the ZDF Royal Series: Monaco's Royal Children
Following "England's Royal Children: Duty and Rebellion", the ZDF will air "Princess Kate and the Drama of the Windsors" (16 July), "Denmark's Royal Children: Departure and Legacy" (23 July), and the fourth film in this year's ZDF Royal series: "Monaco's Royal Children: Splendor and Drama" (6 August, 9 pm).
Among other things, Prince Albert II (66) discusses the "normal family life" in the Monegasque royal household. "I am a very proud father. Our children are still very young, and I want them to grow up as normally as possible. Just like my parents did with me and my sisters. Our family life was as normal as it could be," says Albert, specifying, "spending as much time together as possible and having private space, going on outings."
Albert admits, however, that it was easier to escape the media in the past. "Today, everyone has a phone and can take pictures or videos and publish them on social media. That makes it harder for our children."
Albert is the son of Prince Rainier III of Monaco (1923-2005) and Princess Grace (1929-1982). Since 2011, he has been married to Princess Charlène of Monaco (46). Together, they have twins, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella (9).
All four films are also available in the media library.
The United Kingdom's heir apparent, Prince William, experienced a close relationship with his nanny Barbara Barnes that was affected by his mother's jealousy. The upcoming ZDF Royal Series film, "Monaco's Royal Children: Splendor and Drama," features Prince Albert II discussing his desire for his children to grow up as normally as possible, similar to his own upbringing in The United Kingdom.
