Kate Middleton treats Prince William like a “fourth child,” insider claims

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been together since their university days, building a life filled with love, challenges, and royal duties. But despite their seemingly perfect marriage, royal experts say they are just like any other couple—complete with disagreements, playful taunts, and the occasional royal tantrum.

Prince William and Kate Middleton first met at St Andrews University in Scotland, where their friendship quickly turned into romance. Over the years, they have grown from young sweethearts into one of the most admired royal couples, raising three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—while carrying out hundreds of royal engagements.

But life as the Prince and Princess of Wales hasn’t always been easy. The past year has been particularly challenging, with Kate’s cancer diagnosis and treatment putting their love and resilience to the test. Thankfully, Kate is now cancer-free, and her family has played a crucial role in supporting her throughout the journey.

Despite the hardships, their relationship remains strong. According to royal expert Hilary Fordwich, their public displays of affection aren’t just for show.

“A picture tells a thousand words, and there have been several times when their affection is reminiscent of two teenagers in love, which of course they initially were, well in their early 20s,” Fordwich told Fox News.

Behind the scenes – The real William and Kate

While William and Kate often appear to have a perfect relationship, royal expert Tom Quinn says they experience the same ups and downs as any married couple. Though they may not have dramatic fights, they do have disagreements—just in a more controlled way.

“From people I’ve spoken to, it’s not as placid. It’s not as perfect as it might seem,” Quinn told The Express. “But William adopts the manners and the way of behaving of his grandmother, and Kate is very good at not complaining and adopting.”

According to Quinn, both William and Kate follow the example set by the late Queen Elizabeth II. “They very, very rarely complain. And when they do, it’s always in measured terms.”

At the same time, William is known to have a temper, while Kate remains the calming influence in their relationship. “Kate is very much the calm one,” Quinn explained. “William is the one who’s a bit hotheaded. We see an example of that in Harry’s book… But Kate is very level-headed. She’s the one who will pour oil on troubled waters and go, ‘Let’s not stir things up.’”

Interestingly, Quinn also revealed that Kate sometimes treats William as her “fourth child” due to his demanding royal schedule and occasional tantrums.

“I don’t know where William would be without Kate — she hasn’t had everything done for her throughout her life, so she calms him down when he gets a bit fractious. She said he sometimes has to be treated as her fourth child,” Quinn wrote in his book Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, as reported by The Times.

Will William and Kate have a fourth child?

There has been much speculation about whether the royal couple will expand their family. During a visit to the Baby Bank in Maidenhead in 2023, Kate made a comment that seemed to hint at their decision.

While folding tiny baby clothes, she laughed and said, “I’ve been there and done that,” suggesting she may not be considering another pregnancy.

Kate’s pregnancies were not easy. She suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, during all three of them. Speaking on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, she described the experience as “utterly rotten” and admitted that her husband, William, felt helpless at times.

“I wasn’t eating the things I should be eating, and yet the body was still able to take all the goodness from my body and to grow new life, which I think is fascinating,” Kate shared.

She also revealed that she actually preferred labor because, unlike pregnancy, it had a clear end. “Because actually, it was an event that I knew there was going to be an ending to,” she explained. “But I know some people have really, really difficult times, so it’s not for everybody. No pregnancy is the same, no birth is the same.”

A normal upbringing for royal children

Despite their royal status, William and Kate are determined to give their children as normal a childhood as possible. Their three kids—George, Charlotte, and Louis—are often seen joking and playing together in public, just like any other siblings.

Royal insiders believe that Charlotte will play a crucial role in supporting George when he becomes king. Meanwhile, William and Kate might encourage their youngest son, Louis, to pursue a career outside of the royal family, ensuring he does not feel like a “spare,” as Prince Harry once described himself.

Playful teasing in the royal household

Even with their busy schedules and responsibilities, William and Kate still make time to joke with each other. According to Quinn, Kate enjoys teasing William about his family history, particularly Queen Camilla’s connection to Edward VII’s mistress.

But William doesn’t let Kate have all the fun. Quinn shared a story about how he once teased her over an outfit choice.

“Before Kate realized that as a senior royal you have to dress carefully, having taken advice, she once bought an outfit that William considered inappropriate. He told Kate she looked as if she’d just run through a charity shop covered in superglue. Everyone thought this was very funny, including, to her credit, Kate,” Quinn wrote.

To her credit, Kate found the comment funny—showing that even in the royal family, humor is key to a strong marriage.

The future of William and Kate

As Kate prepares to return to royal duties, she can count on William to support her every step of the way. Despite their differences and the pressures of royal life, their love remains strong.

Whether or not they decide to have a fourth child, one thing is certain—William and Kate are committed to each other, their family, and their royal responsibilities.

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