Personally, I’ve never really cared about the “issue” of whether Duchess Kate and Prince William employ nannies, nurses, etc in and of itself. They can afford help and most parents say that if they could afford it, they too would have lots of help. What I have always cared about, however, is how much Kate and William (and their people) lie about how much help they have and for what purpose. I was thinking about all of the lies while I read this Daily Mail story which could have just been a funny little piece about Prince George and his reign of baby terror. But there are some details that are just flat-out untrue.
When George was a newborn, Kate and the baby moved in with her parents. She had help from her family, plus what I’m guessing was a full or part-time nurse. Then when everybody moved to Wales (just for a few months), they employed William’s old nanny Jessie Webb. By autumn 2013, they were employing Jessie, plus a few other helper/nanny types. Then, by spring of this year, they hired Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, aka “the Spanish nanny,” full-time. Those are the baby-wranglers that we know of, but most of us are sure that there were and are more people involved. Keep that in mind when you read this.
They broke with Royal tradition when they chose not to employ a full-time nanny for Prince George – but second time around, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have decided to hire a maternity nurse.
‘It was really hard work with George and there were lots of sleepless nights,’ a source close to the couple tells me. ‘So Kate has said she’s going to have help with the next one.’
Rather than relying entirely on their family members for help, the Cambridges have already begun making arrangements to use a professional in the early stages after her baby’s birth. The Duchess has spent the past six days being treated for the severe morning sickness condition hyperemesis gravidarum, but I am told that the couple plan to make the move to their new home at Amner Hall in Norfolk as soon as Kate is deemed well enough. William and Kate have spent the past few weeks overseeing refurbishments and sources say they are eager to settle in quickly – and return there as soon as possible after the birth.
The arrangements are in contrast to the first Royal birth, when William and Kate retreated to the Middletons’ family home in Bucklebury.
‘There is a nanny annex and a guest suite with plenty of space for Kate’s family,’ a friend of the couple told me. ‘Kate and William plan to go to their own family home after the birth. Kate is more confident now. This is all about the start of a new life for them and the family.’
While the couple are choosing to base their family in Norfolk, the new baby will be delivered in London – in the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, where Prince George was born in July last year. Following the retirement of the Queen’s surgeon and gynaecologist of 20 years, Marcus Setchell, I understand that the baby will be delivered by Alan Farthing and Guy Thorpe Beeston, who both assisted at the birth of Prince George and are on the Duchess’s call sheet of specialists.
When the family are in Norfolk they will have the use of the Queen’s on-call doctor in the area. The couple confided only recently to friends that they had wanted to try for another baby this summer.
‘It was the plan, but they are surprised and of course delighted it has happened so quickly,’ my source added. ‘They both wanted a short age gap between George and his sibling, and they would love a little sister for George. There’s just a year between Kate and her sister Pippa and they are very close. Kate and William want that for George too.’
Prince George was then and probably still is a handful (to put it mildly), and I doubt anyone begrudges Kate and William an extra set of hands when the second baby comes. Especially if the second baby has even half of George’s forceful personality. So, if Kate is already planning ahead and getting all of the nanny and nursing staff that she needs, go ahead. More power to her. But let’s not pretend that she had zero help with George. And hey, if she’s going to have a full staff of baby-wranglers, maybe that means she’ll be freed up to do more charity work when the second baby comes. Hahahaha. I know!!
Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News.
i would def hire help if i could afford it.
but yeah, why lie about it? to pretend you’re like the peasants? blarg.
+1
I mean… I don’t understand why they lie either. Someone has to watch George while they’re at a royal engagement. Who is supposedly doing that if not a nanny? The Queen?
And also, since everyone knows they employed nannies, I don’t think this subterfuge has the intended effect. Instead of thinking, oh they’re just like normal people, I’m thinking, how rude of them to imply that people who hire nannies are bad parents or something. There is nothing wrong with hiring a nanny if you can afford it. Nothing.
That really is the only issue. Not that they have help. That they claim they don’t have help and use that as an excuse to avoid duties.
I can however see people taking issue with how they pay for that extra help while still claiming they’re doing the majority of work on their own and can’t meet with their charities on a semi regular basis.
Bottom line… Stop stretching the truth. In the days of the internet that doesn’t work as well.
@ Florc
Right on!
It is not the Cambridges who pay the nannies and helpers but the taxpayer. And the taxpayer ain’t getting anything in return.
Are they lying or is the news media picking it up and blowing it out of proportion? In comparison to others in their league, it could be said they have no help or very little, by choice. So its daft people think they are trying to be peasants, they are just trying to do what they think is the right thing for their kid, but with 2 or even 3 kids, help would sure as hell come in handy. People who don’t have help have no idea what it means, its not like this means that your kids are being brought up by someone else, it means that someone else does the things that take up most of your time, like the chores, and you get to spend quality time with your kid. Out here in Asia everyone has domestic help, most times living in, they cook, they clean, they help with bathing and feeding kids…and you get to do the fun shit with the kids, and you get to put them to bed, read stories, and most of this is necessary, the help, I mean, coz both parents have to work, not coz they want to, but because the cost of living is high in big cities and they kinda have to! Education alone, in Hong Kong (where I live) costs about USD1K+ just for kids in kindergarten…per month! Not to mention housing, about anywhere between 2-15K USD a month, depending on your bracket, it could be more, of course…it goes on…help, in comparison, is dirt cheap…so well, if you can afford it, why the hell not? Even SAHM need a break to stop them from being completely angry sobbing messes. Plus Mums and Dads get to spend more time together, go on dates, watch a movie, etc, things that are important in saving marriages.
@ Lisa
1. Usually parents who have helpers/nannies etc. do WORK. Kate and William do hardly do any work at all.
2. Usually parents who have helpers/nannies etc. PAY themselves. Kate’s and William’s helpers/nannies are paid for by the taxpayer.
3. Nobody has a problem with parents who hire a nanny / a help but people have a problem with #1. and #2.
Lisa
1st off the Cambridges or BRF cannot be compared to everyone. To generalize their situation is a mistake. Sure, “everyone” in your part of Asia might have domestic help, but i’m betting a dozen circumstances are different.
And regarding any date nights or time away from baby to keep a marriage together. William is very against candid shots. Maybe because they catch him spending more time away from Kate and Kate at her parent’s home rather than her own residence. To see William and Kate together and to see that shot get printed means it was staged. William approves it in advance or it never happens.
William and Kate are the norm to get help for their family. It’s common to do so. It’s also somewhat common to still claim you’re doing it all yourselves. This is where things break down. Since William and Kate are not paying out of pocket for their help it’s less of a private issue. Even more that they’re refusing to do any giving back to the people who support their lifestyle.
Consider it like this. If you had a baby you would need someone to care for that baby to return to work, yes? And work offers to pay for your nanny. You’re paying no out of pocket cost for the nanny, but are now claiming you cannot return to work because the baby needs you and is keeping you on your toes. While claiming this you spend every day if not every other day shopping or on vacation without your bundle.
And it’s part bad PR. They’re trying to appear normal and relatable. Young couple caring for their new and growing family. That breaks down when William and Kates actions are in direct contrast to their carefully plotted PR statements. All while banning any photos that show Kate shoping, William away, and George loving his time with his nannies.
I thought the appeal of the royal family was that they lived like royals; embodying a fantasy world of opulence and days gone by. Seems really odd to try and shoehorn a false narrative of regular middle class living into that picture.
Exactly. If they’re “just like everybody else,” then what’s the point of having royals at all?
THIS deedee THIS
i already live like me, i dont need to see more of it
i want to see jewels and stuff
It’s just so condescending! How dumb do they think we are?
They are nopt regular except Waity pulling down the RF as the most PR craved with ma corela muddletons and hangers on, Waity cheap shopping, ratty indoor jeggins – and double wear clothes – compare to millions renovating palaces that don’t need to be. Even regulars are more classier.
Fingers cross these royal children with nannies,have nothing of hangers muddletons.
Pager Oleander Houston Suger
+1000
But notice everyday thse PR crazy carola muddletrah in the news – muat be expensive. Such wannabees –
HM the RF disctreet and exact for importance when to be the News (royal) compare to Waity ma muddleton family daily PR..
Willnot increase security cost. London for PG buckleberry (not needed!) and the country, willnot laughing all the way and not a care to taxpayers. Di POW had all together.
I think William is delusional. Why doesn’t he just stop being royal and go live a upper middleclass life. He’s such a hypocrite.
Pager
AMEN +1B
Willnot can stay in the country live off his own inheritance and stop soaking tax payers., and take Waity doolittle – Live regular so other RF can pick up the line and duties to HM GB and Commonwealth..
All the workshy, staffers nannies, and dozens of pampering trips a month – Waity cover pic (at polo), really show her aging so young.
W*W muddletons luxury lifestyle are huge reasons Scots and others think INdependence than support to a bunch of workless spoilt spongers laughing at regular people who have to give up their hard earn pounds supporting the likes of these two. .
This is the exact issue the BRF is trying to navigate. They can’t live a life of pure opulence because being too out of touch hurts their image and thus, endangers the future of the monarchy. On the flip side, they can’t be “normal” because as you said, people would come to the conclusion of “what’s the point?” I think HM the Queen and HRH Prince Philip walk this line very well. Some their children and grandchildren, however, have had some trouble, but found their way.
+ 1
Workless Willnot and Waity exaggeration (to get out of royal duties) interferring with hardworking Prince Harry ….
After his hard working Games, P rince Harry had to have less PR for his Birthday Party thanks W*Waity HG. W*WM change plans due to starting this HG (-no show at. Opening Games and Malta may be next). All paps hunting for party planning at KP to see how sick HG Waity really is.
Glad to know Prince Harry spent Birthday elsewhere (assuming no secret KP party!?), and away from Waity and hangers on sis, ma corella muddleton party poop. More FUN for PHarry!
Exactly.
This is why the working royals=tourism dollars argument bugs me. Look at Versailles. It’s the opulence and the history that draws people in. If France still had royals living there and it had been toned down to be more in line with the current political mood, it wouldn’t get a quarter of the tourists it does now.
The current British royals have the complete opposite effect to what they’re supposed to. Apart from anything else, they’re just boring. They live far too well for the ‘we’re just like you’ bit to work, but they don’t live nearly well enough for any of it to be interesting, not with all the billionaires in the world out there building insane mansions and ridiculous yachts.
I should be the kind of person who’s drawn to British royal sites, I’m a huge history buff, love architecture, art etc. I go crazy in France, love visiting Roman ruins and so on. But I just can’t work up any interest in British royal sites because I associate them with the current royals, and I associate the current royals with utter dullness.
The Windsors are incredibly dull.
Why don’t you try following some of the other European royals.
My favorite (and sovereign) is Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Other than beaing Queen, she’s an artist. Her artwork has been used in a film based on a fairy tale by H.C. Andersen and she has designed costumes for the national ballet on several occasions.
I understand QMII is also a weaver, she designs her gala gowns, and she and Prince Henri/Henrik have translated at least one book together.
I’m still amazed that the Vanilla Snoozingtons had a baby with a personality the size of Texas. I don’t get the lying though, it’s not as if they’re fooling anyone.
it always makes me giggle that they have a baby with such a strong personality.
That said, i love babies with personality.
i do too. 🙂 i always assumed that all babies are sassy as hell, until a friend of mine had one, and she has a very flat affect most of the time.
Ag: Babies can be such fun. I always feel bad for parents who have flat babies.
her parents are also a little “meh,” so i think she goes with them. 🙂
i agree – my toddler is a whirlwind of personality and is the funniest human being out there. haha
The Vanilla Snoozingtons? I am laughing out loud.
If photos are glimpses into a person’s personality, then Prince George is pure grumpy awesomeness. I have a boy with an “oversized” personality too, and it’s a lot of work and patience, but he’s sooooo amazing.
Love George, he’s so funny.
So true! Will be very interesting to watch him grow up.
Love lover Prince Georgie – and happy he ‘exhaust’ Waity worrkless * and scary to Willnot. And PG loves people – would be nice #2 is as fiesty!
Popsugar PGTips new baby captions are cute. Where are the others new pics – thank you.
I don’t really care about their nanny issue. They are royalty, they can hire all the nannies in the world. I’m only here for Prince George, he is such a cutie pie! I want to pinch those chubby cheeks!
I know, he is adorable. His little chubby hands are what get me, no wrist to speak of, just a little crease. And his facial expressions are priceless!
Hahaha i wonder if these celebs/royals read these sites,they must have google alert.
When my baby was born (she will be 40 in December) I had a baby nurse for 6 weeks. Money well spent.
I don’t find it hard to believe that they tried to be somewhat hands on with George. But with him in full toddler mode when #2 is born, I can see why they’d plan ahead for reinforcements. My two boys are 19 months apart and having two little ones is a whole different ballgame than just one.
What is wrong with that? Where are the big lies? Ok, with George the grandma helped at the beginning and now they can’t or don’t want to repeat that and will have a nanny.
Everyone who has two small children one of them being like George and the other one a newborn should get help.
The lies are, they had help from the beginning while insisting they didn’t. The “reasons/excuses” given for why they (especially Kate Middleton) couldn’t work more was because she was a “full time stay at home mother”. Facts prove otherwise. It isn’t that they are hiring help (with money from Charles, which really belongs to the taxpayers). It is that they keep lying about it and using children as an excuse for their lazy behavior.
And having the nannies photoshopped out of photos was something else. Though common for the BRF to do this it stll fed into the lies. George was only to be photographed with Kate and never with the nanny. Also why the latest George getting snuggly with his nanny photo was such big news and unexpected.
Splinter
No one is saying they can’t have help. Not 1 person.
To say you are doing it all on your own and can’t return to work, while having much fulltime help is a bit much.
And new mom’s need that alone time to themselves. I do not begrudge her this. It irked more than a few though for Kate’s excuse to cancel future events because she didn’t want to be away from George, but took hours if not days away from him for daily shopping at markets and vacations was a bit much also.
She can have a fleet of nannies that rival the secret service for the US president. Just don’t claim you’re doing it all on your own. Especially when it’s not coming out of private funds.
Grandma Carole is probably over the thrill of baby watching. As a grandmother, I prefer the role of “watching” the little tots until a tantrum occurs. It would be nice to have a nanny to “take the little one” while the grownups had a cocktail.
My guess would be that Nanny Maria goes with them to Bucklebury, if PGTips is going on the trip. She’d stay in the staff quarters, along with security.
that is so wrong but made me LMAO.
he’s a baby for goodness sake who peed in your cheerios
Wow that was you NOT sounding mean? I would hate to see your version of mean then. He’s a baby! He can’t choose who his parents are and it’s not his fault they’re royal. I think he’s friggin adorable and to say a baby has a “nasty face” is just vicious.
Are some comments now missing? There seems to be a leap, or a disconnect.
(Dunno why my own comment has gone in where it has…..it wasnt a reply. Now it looks like I am the one being pulled up!)
Regardless of how common it is, full time help is still often seen as a shameful secret. You admit to a nanny and people jump to ‘why have kids if you arent going to raise them’ and ‘your kids don’t know their parents’. There is major stigma even though so many people proclaim they’d love it. People already think she is lazy. Why invite extra criticism about her life by saying she has help?
There is absolutely no shame in having a nanny if you have to go out to work. But I know of ladies who are sahm, have cooks maids etc and nanny too! That is shameful
Why is that shameful? if you have access to help, why not use it? Raising kids is really hard work. Suggesting SAHMs are lazy or shameful for wanting or needing help is ridiculous.
How is that shameful?
How is that shameful? Different folks, different strokes. And if we could afford it, I could have cleaning help and a cook in a heart beat. More time with the kiddo and so much less stress.
morrissey? lol
I want a nanny and I don’t even have kids.
I want a nanny and I don’t even want kids ! And I want Mary Poppins 😀
I don’t really need a nanny, but a maid and chef would be great! LOL. No kids in the household except the 4 legged kind. 😀
I was raised by a nanny. Couldn’t afford one for my own kid, though, but I surely would have, if I could.
All royals have nannies. Someone has to watch the kids when the parents visit their charities, parades, galas and whatever. Nothing wrong with having nannies, babysitters, kindergarten etc. People have to work and kids need care.
William and Kate lie about all their help because they know people will ask why they even employ nannies when they don´t work. Doing as if they are a normal couple without help/staff where daddy Willy has a new excuse ehh sorry job and alone-at-home-Kate is busy with the kids gives them the perfect excuse to avoid royal duties.
I’m only here for The Bruiser!
Am the only one who can’t wait for George to grow up to point when he starts talking back and calling his parents out on their bs? Just like hoping this next one will be a girl and all hell will break loose when she hits puberty? Yep Imma sadist!
Oh my , he’s so cute. He looks like trouble coming. 🙂
I love that in every pic you chose, George is trying to make a break from Mom!
Love how in every pic George is just desperate to get down and away from mom’s clutches. He’s so big and so strong, any wonder she is so thin from all that baby wrastling, lol….
Hahahaha
It’s good to see where our taxes are going. Hopefully, we will see her a lot doing charity events when her pregnancy and her resting period is over.
I hope the new baby is a girl with a strong personality, too. A younger brother will have hell to pay with George (The Boss) in charge. He reminds me of George “Spanky” McFarland from the Little Rascals, ringleader extraordinaire!
I can afford more help than I get and the reason I don’t have more childcare services is because I want to raise my child, yes it’s exhausting and overwhelming at times, but I enjoy him more than I can say and I will only get so much time with him in this life. I never realized that I wouldn’t want a Nanny becauE I would want to spend more time with my child!
IMO, I think Kate is easily overwhelmed because she’s never had much responsibility placed upon her to look after anyone else but herself. Apparently, her mom survived (and worked) without live-in help and managed to raise 3 healthy children. So, one would think Kate could manage 2 children with one nanny and several staff at hand. But, I guess not…
I feel the same–if I hired anyone, I’d much rather hire a housecleaner than a nanny and spend that extra time with the kids. But I think a maternity nurse is what we call a baby nurse in the US–someone who comes for the first weeks at night so that the mother can sleep. I didn’t have one, but a friend did and she took the 2nd and 3rd kid completely in stride, never had trouble being too tired for the older kids, and when she went back to work, did not go back with that hollow-eyed, I’m going to hit the wall at any moment look that many parents of 3-month-olds have because of lack of sleep.
“…the Queen’s surgeon and gynaecologist of 20 years, Marcus Setchell, I understand that the baby will be delivered by Alan Farthing and Guy Thorpe Beeston…”
Why can’t we have names like this in the US? I want to be Mrs. Guy Thorpe Beeston!
Couldn’t care less about Kate, who lives in the country that INVENTED nannies.
British names are the absolute best. Every time I watch Made in Chelsea, I get major name envy.
I will say this at least. Kate and Will at least look comfortable with George and vice versa. Unlike some (Kimye and poor Nori)
I feel that they are at least invested in George’s life and will be in the new baby’s life as well. And I so don’t begrudge them the help, noy when it comes to babies-the more people around the help and love babies the better. period-and I wish all new parents were able to have a few weeks of round the clock help, life would be better for everyone.
Too much Kim on the brain. This is not about her.
Also, George looks equally happy/squirmy and arguably more comfortable with his nannies. He’s also more protected from the paps and lenses.
I can understand getting a babysitter once in a while. But even with all the money in the world, I’m not sure I would want so many live-in staff members. I suppose they’re used to it, but to me it would be so awkward to be home all day with nannies, nurses, housekeepers, cooks, security etc. etc. Wouldn’t feel like my home.
I’ve thought this too – all of those helpers have personalities, and how does one handle all of them sweetly? I believe that there must be interesting rules (manners) in dealing with helpers (and vice-versa). I’d like to know what they were.
I have no qualms about Will and Kate’s life together. It sounds wonderful! However their status is used for their enjoyment, and not for the country as a whole. IMO Most of us try to get away with as much as we can at some point, and I feel that these two should just drop off the map and be the happy family as the friends they seek to be like. Royalty seems to be too much for Kate, and William doesn’t seem to care. He’d rather fly a plane.
What really bothers me is that Harry is showing up and could be thrown under the bus whenever it suits his brother who will be king .
is this another test tube baby or real deal? did the queen just try to kill prince harry in a car accident? shades of princess diana..british mafia.lol
test tube baby? wtf?
Are you refering to that conspiracy theory Kate didn’t actually carry or deliver George? Because that has no foundation in truth.
If you barely scratch the surface doublechecking any of those sources cited as evidence it’s a dead end.
If this is to be believed.
Emily Andrews @byEmilyAndrews · 1h
William went to Balmoral late last thurs with Charles (&shooting sat) while Kate recuperated in Bucklebury.What’s this I hear re a baby…?!
Right after he says it is his turn to take care of her, he dumps the wife in Bucklebury ($20,000/day off the taxpayers in extra security costs), and heads to Scotland for a long weekend. If he was just there for the political church walk on Sunday, he could have flown up late Saturday night.
It’s the same old same old….Kate at her mummies , as many predict and William doing his thing whatever.
Believe it. There are pictures on twitter of both Kate and William in Bucklebury and Balmoral respectfully. William went to attend a shoot.
Where??
I don’t see any problem with having extra help. The problem is who is paying for them. Taxpayer’s money?
Turnips – Stop having children _ why get pregnant again if one is too much work. These are the workless W*WM claims- because of PG, they need to stay out of royal duties and move to the country..
Now curious healthy active beautiful Prince George is ‘exhausting’ to these workless Willnot and Waity muddleton.
Willnot look as if he is close to fainting when PGeorgie become curious and move in his arms!
George’s ickle face has the benefit of Denis Healey eyebrows, making him part bebeh, part affable old bloke. Tis hard to picture him turning into a gormless toff like his father!
I hope he gets a brother, so the young princes, Gilbert? and George, can reinforce the Harry effect in the Firm’s approval ratings, though I see them boozing in non-fancy pubs rather than nightclubs, and necking Marston’s ale rather than electric blue vodka pops!
I never really cared whether they hired help either. In fact, I would want them too. Royalty is boring if they try to be “normal” people. They are going to be the rulers of England in the future. That’s nowhere near normal. They don’t have to pretend.
When did ordinary women start to need and/or require nannies for child-rearing? What’s the trajectory on that? I’m just asking.
Is it attitudinal? Is it generational? Is it about social class? Is that the latest fad/trend?
I guess I’m used to women who would take their kids to a service provider, i.e., daycare, pre-school, a nice lady they’ve found. When did one begin to need/require the services of a nanny (especially when they are full-on stay at home moms–when that is their “job”)?
Thanks.
If the Obama’s didn’t have the First Lady’s Mom, watching their two would be a challenge also.