Kate Middleton and Prince Louis made headlines in June 2022 during the Platinum Jubilee for a very, very relatable reason: The then-4-year-old prince was getting pretty bored and sassy throughout the long ceremony and was expressing himself through several different hand gestures, poses, and other typical kid behavior (see below for a full video).
This isn’t the first time that Kate has gone through relatable mom moments — with Louis and his big siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte — that made us vicariously cringe and knowingly grin. The royal’s very public life gives us a snapshot into those candid family interactions, which have ranged from her stealing some yummy snacks, to (literally) juggling multiple kids at once, to talking about how her kids wake her up at the crack of dawn (we feel you, Kate!).
We’re counting down some of our favorite relatable moments here, which will make you feel very seen. Royals… Sometimes, they’re just like us.
Reprioritizing
A major life event has supposedly changed the way Kate Middleton parents her three kids. According to an insider, the Princess of Wales is now more focused on her children after being diagnosed with cancer in 2024.
“It must have been very difficult for her to deal with her family and her illness at the same time, and she obviously realizes that the children have been through a hard time too,” a royal author told Hello. “ … I think the illness has made her keen to prioritize her family even more, because they are the future. Obviously, she wants to support her husband and the monarchy, but she’s going to make sure that she does it in such a way that it doesn’t take her away from the family too much.”
Social Media Rules
Yup! Kate Middleton and Prince William also have to figure out how their royal children can (and can’t!) use social media. An insider told Life and Style Magazine that there is a clear set of rules for how the kids use their 30 minutes of allotted social media time.
“First thing is they aren’t allowed to have their own accounts,” the source said. “They have shared family accounts that they are all logged into that are strictly for viewing content.”
They are also “totally banned from posting and only follow accounts that have been approved by mom and dad.” The insider revealed that George likes to keep up with sports while Charlotte is keen on gymnastics and cooking content. “Plus, they have their favorite kids YouTube stars. It’s all very innocent and not anything that can be toxic for them
A Normal Aunt Too
Middleton isn’t just a “normal” mom, but she’s also just like any other aunt when it comes to her gift-giving. In a new interview with Hello!, her brother James Middleton revealed that his 11-month-old son Inigo gets his older cousins’ hand-me-downs from Aunt Kate.
Yup! Kate gives royal hand-me-downs (which are apparently a thing) to both James Middleton and her sister Pippa Middleton’s kids.
“[The clothes] are milestones, because [my sisters] remember when their child was wearing something, and how old they were – it takes them back,” James said. “It’s been a lovely thing for them.”
Supporting Her Kids’ Interests
Kate Middleton is not only the apparent future Queen of England, but she’s also a full-on Soccer Mom!
“You won’t believe this!!!” a TikTok user wrote over a video where she explains that she saw Middleton on the sidelines of a youth soccer game where Prince Louis were both playing.
She Flubbed Some Photoshop
…Maybe. In an attempt to dissuade outlandish conspiracy theories that popped up a couple of months after Kate’s “abdominal surgery,” the palace released a photo of her and her three kids with huge smiles on their faces.
And huge irregularities. News organizations pulled the photo after realizing it had been tampered with.
The Princess of Wales (or someone from her team) then wrote on X, “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.”
People aren’t buying that it was Kate who edited the photo and the whole thing is just fanning the conspiratorial flames. But there is [at least] one person who believes her.
Whoopi Goldberg. “I’m sorry, I know very few people who don’t manipulate their own photos,” Goldberg told her cohosts on The View. “I mean all you gotta do is swipe — none of those people look like those people look.” And, if the Photoshopping story is true, then Goldberg isn’t wrong. We have all been there.
She Leans On Her Village
Even moms need their moms. And Kate Middleton turned to her mom Carole Middleton for support during her recovery. Sources say Carole and Kate’s dad Michael will be a “reassuring presence” during her recovery.
Other sources of support include Kate’s kids, of course. “She must be looking forward to [returning to her duties],” royal author Robert Jobson told Hello! “but she also feels lucky to be able to have this time with the children and to put her recovery first.”
She Knows How Lonely It Can Be
In 2017, Middleton got candid about how mothers often feel alone. “It is lonely at times and you do feel quite isolated, but actually so many other mothers are going through exactly what you are going through,” she said. “Nothing can really prepare you for you the sheer overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother.”
She Shares This Key Lesson
Jo Frost, a global parenting expert who you may know from Supernanny, told Hello! that Kate teaches her kids something that we should all remember.
“They’re raised with an understanding of royal procedures and protocols. And they’re raised to understand, there’s a time and a place,” Frost said.
There are times when you can shoot a bow and arrow and make s’mores, but there are other times when you need to play a pivotal role in your grandfather’s coronation. That last part doesn’t apply to most kids, but the premise still tracks.
She Knows The Neighbors
An insider told People that not only does the royal family attend regal balls with foreign dignitaries, but they attend little kids’ birthday parties too. An insider told People that when Kate’s family is living at Anmer Hall — their home in the country — they go to birthday parties for their kids’ friends. It’s all part of Kate and Prince William’s strategy to give their kids as “normal” a life as possible given their, well, abnormal circumstances.
And while you might think Kate has a royal secretary who keeps tabs on all the neighborhood kids, she has reportedly surprised locals by remembering everyone’s names herself. That’s relatable in the sense that we try to do that too, but she actually succeeds?! The Princess of Wales deserves a round of applause.
She Gets It
When Kate Middleton cut the ribbon for a new surgery unit at Evelina London Children’s Hospital in Dec. 2023, she spoke to parents there in a way that proved she knows what it’s like to have a sick or hurt child.
“It’s always nerve-wracking as a parent; I’ve taken mine into hospital for different things. You’re always at least worried … We have to keep our cool. It’s so hard.”
Making Sure Everyone Is Together
Even the Princess of Wales has to keep her kiddos in line, and ensure they don’t run off with the subtle hand-holding! Plus, it’s just adorable.
Teaching Volunteer Work
Throughout their time at the Big Help Out, Kate was seen showing her children the ropes and how to help out on big volunteer events!
Teaching Camping Essentials
During the Big Help Out, Kate showed Louis how to do a camping essential: how to roast the perfect marshmallow!
Consoling Bored Children
During a visit to the Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford on July 14, 2023, Kate was seen trying to cheer up and excite young Prince Louis, who looked like he’d rather be anywhere but there!
She Loves The Little Things
Kate Middleton shared a sweet and intimate moment in Oct. 2023 when talking with an 8-year-old refugee at the Vsi Razom Community Hub. “I heard my daughter singing this morning and it’s a song called ‘Shine Jesus Shine’ and that made me very happy this morning,” Kate said (find the video HERE).
Cut It Out
There are few things that make us feel more connected to Kate Middleton than when we watch her try and get silly Prince Louis to behave. The only difference between us and her? She somehow stays way more composed.
In 2024, royal author Tom Quinn revealed that she has an age-appropriate four-word phrase that helps Prince Louis get back on track: “Let’s take a break.”
“Louis is an energetic child and clearly was unable to contain his excitement at being at a public event,” another insider divulged. “Kate doesn’t worry about their behavior too much. She loves to see them being kids.”
Having Silly Moments
Kate and Charlotte looked as happy as can be, laughing and goofing off in a rare moment during the 2023 Wimbledon games.
Explaining Sports to the Kiddos
Like Prince George’s Wimbledon debut, Kate also talked Princess Charlotte through what was happening at the legendary games during her debut in 2023!
Laughing Through The Pain
The phrase, “If you can’t laugh, you’ll cry” is so real, so we weren’t surprised to see Kate Middleton let out a giggle while Prince Louis screamed on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after King Charles III’s coronation.
Whispered Reminders
That look says, “I know it’s hard, but you have to sit still and be quiet.”
Holding Hands
Kate Middleton might have needed that hand for waving, but Prince Louis had other ideas.
Answering Questions Always
Even at King Charles III‘s coronation, Kate Middleton played supermom, answering Prince Louis’ questions and keeping him in his seat during the ceremony. For her sake, we hope he didn’t have to go to the loo.
Ditto
We meant it when we said “always.”
Double Checking
Kate Middleton turned around at King Charles III’s coronation, making sure everyone was still following and hadn’t run off with Katy Perry or one of the other celebrities in attendance.
Being Awoken by Her Kids at the Crack of Dawn
While chatting up the crowd en route to the Christmas Day service at Mary Magdalene Church, Kate was overheard saying she had “quite an early start” that morning. Apparently not even a royal mom can get the chance to sleep in on Christmas morning!
Using Her Hand as a Napkin
During the 2022 Platinum Pageant on The Mall — part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations — Kate pulled the ultimate mom move: Using her hand as a napkin to clean off Prince Louis’ face. It really doesn’t get more relatable as a mom than that.
Homeschooling Her Kids During COVID
Surprising as it may be, Kate took on the role of teacher during the COVID-19 lockdowns like other non-royal parents all over the world. She said on ITV’s This Morning, per People, “We’re stuck into homeschooling again. George gets very upset because he just wants to do all of Charlotte’s projects. Spider sandwiches are far cooler than literacy work!”
The princess also got candid with other parents during a 2020 video chat, sharing, “As parents, we have day-to-day elements of being a parent but, I suppose, during lockdown, we’ve had to take on additional roles that others in our communities or in our lives would have helped us with.”
She continued, “I’ve become a hairdresser this lockdown, much to my children’s horror. We’ve had to become teachers. I, personally, feel pulled in so many different directions.”
And That’s Not All
She also cut the young royals’ hair during the height of the pandemic! “I have become a hairdresser in lockdown – much to my children’s horror!” she revealed.
Showing She’s Not Above It All
Kate Middleton may be one of the most highly-ranked royals on the planet, but she’s also just an every day woman and mom. Take Prince William’s 2015 Gigaset Charity Polo Match for example. While some may have expected her to demand a blanket or chair to sit on, she happily sat in the grass while watching Prince George while her husband competed in the philanthropic game.
Making Scary Moments All Better
When Princess Charlotte lost her balance and nearly toppled over during the 2018 Trooping of Colour fly-over, she got pretty spooked. But lucky for her, Middleton came swiftly to the rescue, comforting her back to calm alongside her brother and cousins.
Taking the Kids to School
Being a royal doesn’t deter Kate from being involved in the day-to-day of her children’s school lives — including the drop-off and pick-up routine. Here, the mom of three walks hand-in-hand with her boys, dressed in dapper school uniforms for their first day at Lambrook School in Bracknell, England.
Playing Around
Does it get much more real than Kate Middleton sitting in the grass and teaching Prince George how to play with a Slinky?!
Putting on the “Mom Face”
Sometimes, when your kids are acting like feral animals, you have to talk to them through your clenched teeth so you don’t also turn into a raging wildebeest. Kate, in all her royal pomp, is familiar with the “mom is losing her s—t facial expression,” just like the rest of us.
Snapping First Day of School Photos
Kate knows that there’s a limit to “first days of school,” so she makes sure to capture every single one! The proud mum, who’s an avid photographer, has been known to display her kids’ first-day photos at home, as she did here.
Managing Antics
If you watched the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, you probably caught a glimpse of Prince Louis and his stageside antics. You also probably felt all the relatable mom pangs as Kate tried her very best to calm him down (while being on live TV, no less!)
It cannot be remotely easy to negotiate with and discipline your antsy kid while being watched by countless people around the world. We tip our mom hats to her big time. And if you need further proof of Kate’s graceful handling of the situation, check out the video here.
Keeping Calm & Carrying On
Kate Middleton unlocked ultimate parenting goals at the Maserati Polo Match in 2018 when Princess Charlotte tried to run away. The Duchess didn’t bat an eye as she grabbed the back of her daughter’s skirt to stop her from jetting down a grassy hill.
We’ve all been there. 10/10 capturing form.
Easing Temper Tantrums
While finishing up a tour of Germany in 2017, Princess Charlotte had a bit of a crying spell. We are all Kate in this photo, bending down, trying to get the tears to stop as quickly and cleanly as possible before it elevates into a full-blown meltdown.
Sharing Snacks
We don’t know what snacks Middleton had prepared for the kids during a charity polo match in 2019, but we really love that she doled some out for herself. Those family outings can get long and, honestly, some kids’ snacks look pretty damn good. Sharing is caring.
Plus, she’s munching with her littlest while letting her bigs play in the trunk of the car? She really is so down to earth.
Dealing With Cheeky Poses
Did Kate plan for a photo with Princess Charlotte’s tongue out? Nope, probably not. But we can all relate to the countless family pictures taking a much sillier route than we originally planned and having to make peace with the results.
Family Bonding, FTW
Ahead of the lJubilee, Kate got some family time with her three kids in the kitchen. The royal couple’s Instagram account shared a sweet video of everyone bustling around and cooking. “Baking cakes for the local community in Cardiff to enjoy at a Platinum Jubilee street party taking place today! ,” the caption read. “We hope you like them! 🧁”
While we might not have been able to make it to the Jubilee, family bonding time is certainly a relatable favorite — just like the flour all over Prince Louis’s arm.
