Why Prince William and Kate Middleton Don’t Eat Meals With Their Kids, Even on Christmas

The royal family is bound to a series of strict rules and guidelines that shape entirely their lives, and even the little ones don’t get a pass. This is the case with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, who don’t eat with their parents, and there’s a fascinating reason why.

All the royal kids eat together.

It’s been reported that the children of Prince William and Kate Middleton aren’t allowed to join their parents at the table during holidays and official dinners, including Christmas. Former royal chef Darren McGrady, who worked for Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, explained they must learn “the art of polite conversation” before doing so.

The cook detailed the rule even further, revealing where they eat until they reach an age where they can display proper behavior during events of the state. “The children always ate in the nursery until they were old enough to conduct themselves properly at the dining table,” McGrady said.

Prince William and Prince Harry went through it as well.

The royal nursery, where the kids eat, does more than just teach young royals proper etiquette. “The royal nursery wasn’t just for educating the minds of the young royals but educating their palates too,” the chef admitted, mentioning how Prince William and Prince Harry had to be coaxed into eating their greens. “Nanny always had control of the menu and made sure they ate balanced meals that included not only lots of healthy vegetables but introduced them to new grown-up dishes too,” he added.

The chef himself would often disguise vegetables in young royals’ favorite foods. Although Princess Diana approved of her sons eating healthy, she would also sneak them out to McDonald’s every once in a while.

Working for the Royal Palace requires meeting a list of countless requirements and following strict rules, which likely have never even crossed the minds of most of us. For example, the royal staff squeezes toothpaste for King Charles, as he rarely does anything himself.