Kate Middleton and Prince William share three royal children who are bound to lead extraordinary lives, but are the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge open to adding a fourth kid to their adorable little squad? Here’s the real reason Kate Middleton may be done having kids.
Hands full with three kids
We may not get a fourth baby announcement from Kate Middleton and Prince William, but that’s understandable since these parents have a lot to handle with three young royals to raise.
In 2017, the duchess spoke about motherhood at a Heads Together event and said, “Personally becoming a mother has been such a rewarding and wonderful experience.” She continued, “However, at times it’s also been a huge challenge. Even for me who has support at home that most mothers do not. Nothing can really prepare you for the sheer overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother.”
Kate also discussed the huge array of emotions she’s felt as a mother, which can be difficult to handle for any new parent. The Duchess of Cambridge said, “For many mothers, myself included, this can at times lead to a lack of confidence.” She further explained, “It is right to talk about motherhood as a wonderful thing, but we also need to talk about its stresses and strains. It’s OK not to find it easy, and asking for help should not be seen as a sign of weakness.”
It’s also more than fine to admit that you’re happy with the kids you have and don’t want anymore, which is what Prince William seems to have expressed on several occasions. Considering the fact that Kate and William are responsible for raising a future king, no-one can blame them for focusing on the family they already have.
The next king
Despite still being a child, Prince George is third in line to the British throne, and that means that his parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, have a huge responsibility ahead of them when it comes to preparing him for his future role as the King of England.
George’s great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, is the longest-reigning living monarch in the world. Next in line to the throne is her oldest son, Prince Charles. However, there is speculation that the queen will opt to skip over Charles and give the crown to her grandson, Prince Charles’ oldest son, Prince William.
Either way, little Prince George follows his father in the line of succession. This means that William and Kate must ensure that George receives the best education and formal training to prepare him for his future position, which surely can’t be easy.
Plus, as George’s dynamic little sister, Princess Charlotte, is fourth in line to the throne, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge already have a family of heirs to worry about. “Really, we were happy to show him off to whoever wanted to see him, as any new parents know”.”
Royal dynamo
Prince George may be the sibling who’s expected to take over the British crown one day, but it’s Princess Charlotte who tends to create a buzz wherever she goes. Royal watchers got a glimpse of Charlotte’s sassy side en route to her Uncle Harry’s wedding in May 2018.
As she sat in the backseat of a car, all dressed up in her fancy attire for the formal ceremony, Charlotte looked out the window and stuck out her tongue at photographers. It was undeniably cheeky, and it might end up being her signature move. Princess Charlotte stuck out her tongue again in August 2019, while accompanying her parents to the King’s Cup in Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
Charlotte turned to the reporters and shot the crowd the same tongue-out expression. This time around, her mum witnessed the act of rebellion and just grinned at her daughter while onlookers laughed. The young princess is clearly willing to take on the persistent press that follows her family too.
When faced with photographers outside the church on the day of Prince Louis’s christening, Charlotte told the press, “You’re not coming!” It looks like the youngest royal sibling can count on his big sister to protect him, which is good because he’s certainly growing up fast.
Growing up fast
Prince Louis may be the youngest of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s three children, but the little royal is growing up quickly. In fact, he’s busy learning new things and stepping out into the world, with a nanny, of course. In January 2020, Louis was seen out with a caretaker at London’s Natural History Museum.
According to Elle, “The one-year-old was spending time in the dinosaur exhibit and got very excited looking at them.” His mom seems equally excited to watch him grow. According to People, the duchess talked about her youngest child at an event in January 2020.
A guest revealed to the publication, “I asked how her children were. She said Louis had started to tell her ‘he’s balancing,’ and she said it was really nice to see him turning into a little boy from being a baby. She’s obviously very proud of her children.” While life certainly sounds sweet for little Louis, it makes you wonder what life would be like for a fourth royal baby if William and Kate decided to expand their family once more.
Number four?
If Prince William changed his mind and had a fourth baby with his wife, Kate Middleton, the little one could expect an incredibly interesting life. Not only would the youngest child enjoy royal privileges and enviable experiences, but the child’s entire upbringing would be expected to follow certain traditions.
First and foremost, news of the baby, from the pregnancy to the birth and beyond, would be released via official channels with the approval of the queen. For instance, when Prince Louis was born, a royal announcement was placed in front of Buckingham Palace.
That’s a little fancier than posting baby news on Instagram, although the royals do that, too. The new baby would also be a prince or princess and receive a royal name. When William and Kate opted for George, Charlotte, and Louis, they followed rules dictating royal baby names. Since the parents chose traditional monikers for their older children, they would likely do so for a fourth child as well.
On top of that, the fourth child would receive the same kind of education and training as the rest of the brood, which makes sense since they could also become king or queen someday. Following their grandfather, father, and older siblings in the line of succession, the new baby would live a life much like the royals who came before. However, this is all hypothetical, and simply what would happen if William and Kate tried for a fourth baby, which doesn’t sound all that likely at this point. Still, we can dream.