The Princess of Wales has touchingly revealed how she is reassuring her young children amid her battle with cancer after the announcement she is fighting the disease.

The mother-of-three says she and Prince William have explained the situation to their children George, Charlotte and Louis, after the ‘huge shock’ of her diagnosis.

Princess Catherine said had told them she is doing ‘well and getting stronger every day’ and that she was ‘focusing on the things that will help me heal’.

The 42-year-old also revealed that she was comforted by having her husband by her side, and that they were doing ‘everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family’.

In a televised address, the future Queen revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing a successful abdominal operation in January, and that doctors have advised her to undergo preventative chemotherapy.

Speaking from a bench surrounded by daffodils and spring blossom, the Princess of Wales revealed her shock diagnosis this evening.

‘I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery,’ she said.

‘It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.’

Kensington Palace has said it will not be sharing details of what kind of cancer the princess has, or what stage of cancer it is and has asked people not to speculate. 

The future Queen revealed that she and her husband have been focusing on their children during this difficult time. 

She said: ‘But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok. 

‘As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits. 

‘Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. 

‘As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.’

It is understood that the King – who is also currently undergoing cancer treatment himself – and the Queen have both been informed of the news. 

Earlier she revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing a planned operation at The London Clinic two months ago. 

‘In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,’ she said.

‘The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. 

‘My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.’

The Princess of Wales added that the news had left the family shaken and they have been coming to terms with her diagnosis in private. 

She said: ‘This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. 

‘As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.’

Catherine added that she and her family would like privacy while she battles the disease.

She said: ‘We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. 

‘My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery. 

‘At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. 

‘For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.’

This evening’s announcement will send shockwaves around the world and came after weeks of speculation – and wild conspiracy theories – about her health. It also creates a fresh crisis for the British Royal Family at a time where King Charles is also battling cancer. In January Sarah, the Duchess of York, was diagnosed with skin cancer, just six months after being treated for breast cancer.

It comes after sick social media trolls spent weeks spreading wild rumours about her wellbeing as palace aides refused to comment on her recovery from abdominal surgery in January.

The princess is now on what has been described as a ‘recovery pathway’ having commenced a course of chemotherapy in late February.

It is for this reason that Prince William pulled out of a memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece.

Kensington Palace has strongly asked people not to speculate on what cancer she has.

However they say that she is in ‘good spirits and focused on her recovery’.

‘She is hugely grateful to the medical team for the care they are providing to her,’ a spokesman said.

‘She now needs time, space and privacy to complete her treatment and make a full recovery.’

It is understood that the announcement was made tonight not because of unpleasant social media speculation about her health and whereabouts – although that has been upsetting and unpleasant – but because her children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louise, five, broke up from school today, which gave them the opportunity to take them away privately and protect them from the inevitable public shock.

A spokesman for the princess said: ‘We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy, as we all do.’

However her spokesman confirmed: ‘The Princess is now on a recovery pathway having commenced a course of preventative chemotherapy…in late February.’

The palace will not confirm how long her treatment is expected to last and has asked the media and public not to speculate.

It also said it would not confirm where her treatment would be taking place, a spokesman adding: ‘We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy, as we all do.’

Asked when the princess was given the news by her doctors, a spokesman explained: ‘Once post-operative tests had been completed and results reviewed.’

They added: ‘The Princess wanted to share this information when she and The Prince felt it was right for them as a family. ‘

A source said it had been ‘an incredibly tough couple of months for the entire family’ and it had been important for the princess to come to terms with her diagnosis, to recover form her surgery and begin her pathway to recovery.

Throughout this period the couple’s children have been her priority.

It is understood that William and Kate wanted to tell their children at a time that was right for them and to allow them to understand and process the news before it became public.

With the children having broken up from Lambrook School today for the Easter holidays this afternoon, they decided that now was the right time to share the statement.

Sources say their concern recently, despite global and social media speculation, was to put Catherine’s health and their children first.

It is now hoped, aides said, the speculation around the princess comes to a stop.

Catherine is apparently determined to go about her normal routine, which she sees as an important part of her recovery, and has asked for people to respect her privacy. 

Prince William found out his wife Kate had cancer before he pulled out of attending King Constantine of Greece’s memorial service.

The Prince of Wales’s absence from the St George’s Chapel event at Windsor Castle on February 27 had raised eyebrows, but tonight’s revelation about the princess’s health has shed new light on why he stayed away.

Kate had only just been diagnosed with cancer ahead of beginning chemotherapy, it was revealed tonight – after Buckingham Palace had initially said the previous month her condition was non-cancerous.

Royal aides are now expected to rally around William all the more as he steps back from frontline duties and looks after the couple’s children as his wife recuperates.

The prince has already been adjusting his royal duties to devote even more time to his family after Kate was first admitted to the London Clinic in January.

The couple have both been dedicated to doing their fair share of the school run each morning and afternoon since their three children began attending £24,000-a-year Lambrook School near Ascot in Berkshire in September 2022.

The co-ed institution is not far from the family’s Frogmore Cottage home on the Windsor estate – and is also convenient for visits by the princess’s parents.

Carole and Michael Middleton live just 33 miles away in Bucklebury, Berkshire, and the strong mother-daughter bond has been a key feature of troubled recent months.

Kate’s siblings Pippa, 40, and James, 36, are also close at hand in Bucklebury. 

William’s decision not to attend the memorial service for King Constantine came as a surprise at the time, with the reason described as ‘personal reasons’.

Also missing was his father King Charles, himself receiving treatment for cancer.

Queen Camilla was instead the most senior member of the Royal Family in attendance, with William’s uncle Prince Andrew also enjoying a prominent role as he led fellow royals on foot to the service.

Constantine was the godfather of William, who is said to have called the Greek royal family to apologise for not being there. 

The Prince was due to read from Revelation 21:1-7, a popular reading for funerals that begins ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth’.

He had cleared his diary of official duties to help support Kate’s recovery, although did visit a homelessness charity’s base in Sheffield on Tuesday this week.

The couple were seen being driven from Windsor on March 11, although only William attended that afternoon’s Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in central London while Kate continued on to a private appointment elsewhere.

Their children Prince George, 10, eight-year-old Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, five, all attend Lambrook School which starts its summer term on April 17. 

Royal experts have said the parents chose Lambrook because they wanted their children to have a ‘different kind of schooling’ to their own. 

George and Charlotte were previously pupils at Thomas’s Battersea while Louis attended Willcocks Nursery in Kensington, both schools in London.

William and Kate were pictured strolling into Lambrook School’s grounds hand-in-hand with their children for their first day there in September 2022.

They are believed to have been sharing ‘school run’ duties but William has now been taking on more responsibilities – as have Kate’s parents Carole, 69, and Michael, 74.

Earlier this month Carole was snapped at the wheel of a car driving her daughter – pictured for the first time in two months – around Windsor Castle.

The photos were published by US gossip website TMZ but not in the UK after Kensington Palace appealed for her to be able to recuperate in private.

Insiders who knew the Middleton children at school have said her family was renowned for ‘doing everything to the very highest of standards’.

A fellow parent told Tatler recently: ‘There were huge picnics on sports days, the smartest tennis rackets — that kind of thing.

‘It made the rest of us all feel rather hopeless. Ultimately, Carole has played a blinder as a mother – not only are all of her children unfairly good-looking, they are also famously charming.

‘Always the first to write a thank-you letter, they dance all night and are still the first up in the morning, plumping cushions and washing up.’

Two years ago, Carole and Michael Middleton made a sombre appearance as they joined senior members of the Royal Family for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s committal service. 

Months later, they were seen in high spirits as they arrived at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of King Charles III – arriving alongside their children Pippa and James.

Kate’s mother has also always been on hand to support Kate for her annual ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service – a known passion project of the princess’s. 

Other get-togethers have seen the mother and daughter huddled up alongside each other at Royal Ascot – and in summer 2022, Kate was seen blowing her parents a kiss as the family attended Wimbledon.

Kate, William and their children have their main home as four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor grounds in Berkshire, with no live-in staff although they do have a nanny, housekeeper and security team living nearby.

The Grade II listed property is owned by the Crown Estate and the couple are said to be paying ‘market rent’.

Lambrook School has just 610 boys and girls aged three to 13 and is mixed so all three children can attend together, cutting down on school runs and security teams.

It offers boarding but George, Charlotte and Louis have all been day pupils there.

The Good Schools Guide says the prep school has a ‘heart of gold’ and offers pupils ‘total freedom to explore, provided you’ve got your wellies on’.

It boasts of ‘first-class teaching and superb facilities’ including a 25-metre swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, an Astroturf, squash court and a new £6million Queen’s Building for ICT and academic learning.

The prospectus quotes one parent calling it ‘the most magical place for our children to spend time, and they can often be seen rosy-cheeked and perfecting handstands, throwing balls or racing to the three stumps’.

School sources have described William and Kate as being ‘like a normal mum and dad’ who throw themselves into events at Lambrook. 

Hello! magazine reported the royal couple take part in all the important school activities, including ‘queueing for the tombola’ in a recent fundraising drive.

The future King and Queen are described as discreetly slipping into events such as carol concerts, fitting occasions around their busy schedules.

By Rebekah Absalom

Published: 2:43 PM EDT, March 10, 2024 | Updated: 2:44 PM EDT, March 10, 2024

By Katherine Lawton

Published: 5:24 AM EDT, March 10, 2024 | Updated: 5:39 AM EDT, March 10, 2024

The late Queen Elizabeth’s niece, Princess Alexandra, made a somber appearance as she joined the royal family for today’s thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece.

The Honorable Lady Ogilvy, 87, whose father is Prince George, Duke of Kent, wore an all-black ensemble as she arrived in a wheelchair for the occasion.

She was seen standing next to her daughter Marina Ogilvy, 57, in the same row as Prince Andrew, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Alexandra opted for a velvet button-down jacket and paired her ensemble with a hat for today’s service.

She seemed moved by the service and was seen talking quietly with her daughter in the chapel.

During the emotional event, both women were also seen reaching for tissues.

Always chic and typically diplomatic, Alexandra has never put a foot wrong in her entire life in public service.

Lady Ogilvy was not only the late Queen’s cousin, but also one of her closest friends and was once called the ‘unsung heroine’ of the royal family.

One biographer also described her as ‘the most efficient working princess in the world’.

Her regal style is muted and unobtrusive, in stark contrast to some of the more lurid events that have surrounded her life.

She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1943, while her own wedding to businessman Sir Angus Ogilvy was broadcast to around 200 million people 20 years later.

Lady Ogilvy is 56th in line to the throne, but she has been an integral part of the royal family and a loyal pillar for sixty years.

Her father is the Duke of Kent, one of George VI’s younger brothers, and the former king was one of her godparents. Her mother was Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.

The royal family was present in large numbers for the thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle today.

Queen Camilla, 76, led the Firm’s members after King Charles III missed the somber event as his treatment for cancer continued, while Prince William was due to give a lecture but pulled out for “personal reasons.”

No further details have been given about William’s absence, and it is not known whether this is related to the Princess of Wales’ continued recovery following her abdominal surgery last month.

The Prince of Wales is said to have called the Greek royal family to apologise, while Kensington Palace confirmed Kate is ‘doing well’ as she recovers at home.

Camilla was accompanied by Prince Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, their daughter Princess Beatrice, King Charles’ sister Princess Anne, and her daughter Zara Tindall, as well as the late King Constantine’s widow, Queen Anne-Marie, their eldest. son, Crown Prince Pavlos and other members of the Greek royal family.

Camilla appeared calm and confident in an elegant pinstripe outfit as she stepped up as the highest-ranking figure representing the British monarchy in Charles’ absence.

Camilla has long been hailed as the strength and pillar of the royal family, taking charge of the company following the king’s shock diagnosis.

As she leads both British and foreign royal families, it is this strength of character that will allow her to steady the ship.

Princess Anne previously admitted she ‘plays her role very well’ despite ‘not being a natural’, while a former royal butler praised her ‘steady hand at the helm’.

The queen admitted six years ago that royal life is “tiresome” but has nevertheless continued her work and led the nation in her husband’s absence.

Leaving the ceremony, Camilla looked confident as she stood next to Queen Anne Marie of Greece at the end of the service, with Princess Anne smiling to her right.

She wore a somber black jacket with a subtle pinstripe, paired it with a matching skirt and a wide-brimmed hat with dark fringe.

She smiled warmly at those who had gathered to meet her before entering the hall and observing a solemn and dignified silence.

And in an emotional display of affection for her husband’s late relative, she appeared to wipe away tears as she watched the ceremony.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are currently pondering the difficult question of where to send Prince George to high school.

And it looks like there's a new institution in the running after The Daily Mail revealed Kate, 42, and Prince William, 41, were set to take a look at £47,000-a-year 'Teddies', as St Edward's School in Oxford is known stands. .

The princess underwent a 'successful' planned abdominal surgery just over three weeks ago and is currently resting at her Windsor home, Adelaide Cottage, so it's unclear exactly when the royal couple toured.

“They came to watch,” said a Teddies grandfather.

The coeducational institution, founded in 1863 by the Reverend Thomas Chamberlain, has a gifted headmaster, Alastair Chirnside.

As an Oxford student he gained a Congratulatory First – awarded perhaps only once in a decade for exceptional brilliance – in Classics and French, and also won a Half-Blue for rowing in the Oxford lightweight crew.

The school's impressive alumni include Dambusters leader Guy Gibson and fellow RAF legend Douglas Bader, as well as actor Laurence Olivier and Oppenheimer star Florence Pugh.

Up websitethe headteacher emphasizes the school's 'spirit of inclusion' and 'ethos of collaboration'.

He adds: “Everyone should have the opportunity to participate and everyone should have the opportunity to excel. Children's happiness and their ability to recognize what makes them happy are more important than anything else.”

Speaking about the school's philosophy, Mr Chirnside said: 'Education is a deeply personal endeavour, based on good relationships and most successful when teachers and students can set their course.

'That philosophy has defined St Edward's recent success and will form the basis for the school's future.'

The educational institution has 100 'glorious' hectares in the north of Oxford, including a golf course and a boathouse.

In terms of curriculum, the school's website explains that students are encouraged to look beyond exam results and focus on long-term life goals.

In this way the school encourages children to take 'Pathways and Perspective' courses in addition to their GCSEs.

The courses have been designed by the school together with 'leading educational experts' and are accredited to Buckingham University, with several courses having links with university departments.

The courses complement GCSE options and cover areas such as sustainability, design, sports science and the classical world.

The Sustainability course is likely to appeal to the Prince of Wales, who is known for his green-focused vision.

Students also take seven to eleven GCSEs, which require English Language, World Literature, Maths and Science (double or triple distinction) and one modern foreign language.

The school charges extra fees for extracurricular activities including drama, golf and sailing lessons.

One of the main objectives of 'Teddies' is to teach a range of life skills. Therefore, students must join the Combined Cadet Force. Students can choose between the Army, Navy and Air Force sections.

Established in 1948 as a youth organization of the Ministry of Defense, the objectives of the course are 'to provide a disciplined organization in a school so that students can develop leadership skills through training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance and resourcefulness' . , endurance and perseverance'.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are also known to champion young people's mental health – another philosophy that 'Teddies' prioritises.

Last year the school supported Oxfordshire Youth to improve the mental health of children at school and in the wider community.

St Edward's also hosts an annual Youth in Mind conference in partnership with Oxfordshire Mind.

The conference is open to social and health professionals from across the UK and provides an opportunity to hear from speakers and develop skills to improve the mental health of children and young people.

Although Prince William and Prince Harry both were studied at Eton College, just a short distance from Windsor CastleIt has not yet been confirmed whether Prince George will follow in his father and uncle's footsteps.

He has also been linked to his mother Kate's former school, Marlborough College, where Pippa and James Middleton were also educated.

The Mail on Sunday reported that George has already been given a 'home' in a secure location and a caretaker at the school when he does eventually go to school.

But it is said there are concerns that Marlborough has become 'too flashy' after a rise in popularity with ultra-wealthy families due to its association with the Middletons.

“The 2024 version of Marlborough could be very different from how Kate remembers it,” says a source.

'It's become a bit more jet-setting. Many parents have villas in Ibiza, chalets in Verbier or a private jet, which is not Kate's style. She prefers understated wealth.”

They added: 'Kate wants a school that suits all her children and keeps them grounded.'

Last week the Mail on Sunday reported that Kate and William had also put the prestigious Oundle School among their top choices for their eldest son, who leaves primary school this summer.

Oundle School in north Northamptonshire claims it can help shape its pupils into 'decent', 'open-minded' and 'ambitious' adults – but never 'arrogant'.

Founded in 1556, the institution prides itself on students, known as Oudelians, 'sharing the town of Oundle' with residents, as the buildings are spread across the area on an open campus with a chapel and cricket pitch.

The headteacher, Sarah Kerr-Dineen, who studied at both Oxford and Cambridge, describes the pupils at the school as 'intellectually curious, energetic and resourceful'.

As the Prince and Princess of Wales ponder the difficult choice of where to send the future king to high school, a new institution is reportedly in the works.

The Mail on Sunday reported this weekend that Kate, 42, and William, 41, have named the prestigious Oundle School as one of their top choices for their eldest son, 11, who will leave primary school this summer.

It comes amid reports that Kate's alma mater, Marlborough School in Buckinghamshire, where fees are £47,000 a year, is at risk of being 'ostentatious' with a source revealing that the Princess of Wales's style is 'understated opulence' is.

By contrast, Oundle School in north Northamptonshire claims it helps transform its pupils into 'decent', 'open-minded' and 'ambitious' adults – but never 'arrogant'.

Founded in 1556, the institution prides itself on students, known as Oudelians, 'sharing the town of Oundle' with residents, as the buildings are spread across the area on an open campus with a chapel and cricket pitch.

The headteacher, Sarah Kerr-Dineen, who studied at both Oxford and Cambridge, describes the pupils at the school as 'intellectually curious, energetic and resourceful'.

She adds, “There is no dancing” among the students.

Speaking about adults educated at the Northamptonshire school, Mrs Kerr-Dineen says: 'What I see in them is a sense of decency and enjoying the company of others; a sense of loving opportunity and challenge, but not of entitlement or feeling of being owed anything.

'My experience is that Oudelian people work hard on feelings. They enjoy friendships, they enjoy relationships.”

As for the curriculum, the school's website explains that students aged 11 to 12 are taught more academic subjects in the morning, freeing up the afternoon for 'creative subjects and sports'.

“At this age, children's minds are most alert in the morning,” the website explains.

Students also study Latin and can take French or Spanish, but also have the opportunity to explore ancient Greek, German and Chinese.

School fees at Oundle for full-time boarders are £34,515 per year for year 7, but tuition increases to £45,435 from years 9 to 13.

The cost for day pupils in Year 7 is £22,350 per year, rising to £29,370 for years 9-13.

However, the school's website states: 'Oundle is founded on philanthropy and we firmly believe that financial circumstances should not limit access to an Oundle education for well-suited children.

“We will do our best to support any family whose child has the potential, but not the financial means, to come to Oundle.”

As well as providing its students with a strong sense of community, the school emphasizes its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and encouraging students to become 'environmentally conscious'.

Oundle's key objectives include 'raising environmental awareness throughout our school community' and 'improving the efficiency of energy and water use'.

The school also operates a 'tree management strategy' where for every tree removed, three new trees are planted, plus a boost for biodiversity through the planting of wildflowers.

The school's commitment to environmental sustainability could appeal to conservationist Prince William, Prince George's father.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are also known to champion young people's mental health – another philosophy that Oundle prioritises.

There is a head of mental health at the school, who leads a wellbeing team there to support pupils.

Oundle offers one-to-one sessions for all students needing emotional support in the Clayton Rooms – where they can also make a fuss about Mabel, the black Labrador.

The school also has a pastoral forum for pupils, whose members are members of the Sixth Form.

The PPF focuses on the areas of gender, race, health, mental health, LGBT+ issues and neurodiversity. The school's website states that the aim of the PPF is to 'ensure that voices are heard and that a spirit of open conversation is promoted throughout the school, leading to understanding and tolerance'.

Associations that students can join at school include a mindfulness group, a dressmaking group and a United Nations model.

Although Prince William and Prince Harry were both educated at Eton College, a short distance from Windsor Castle, it has not yet been confirmed whether Prince George will follow in his father and uncle's footsteps.

He has also been linked to his mother Kate's former school, Marlborough College, where Pippa and James Middleton were also educated.

The Mail on Sunday reported that George has already been given a 'home' in a secure location and a caretaker at the school when he does eventually go to school.

But it is said there are concerns that Marlborough has become 'too flashy' after a rise in popularity with ultra-wealthy families due to its association with the Middletons.

“The 2024 version of Marlborough could be very different from how Kate remembers it,” says a source. 'It's become a bit more jet-setting. Many parents have villas in Ibiza, chalets in Verbier or a private jet, which is not Kate's style. She prefers understated wealth.”

They added: 'Kate wants a school that suits all her children and keeps them grounded.'

Former students of the world's most prestigious nanny school, Norland College, have reunited 40 years later to reminisce about their careers as nannies for the elite.

The Norland class of 1982 – all 60 years old – reunited Saturday.

The 87th class calls themselves the 'Original Norland Nannies' because they trained in Denford Park, Berkshire, before the college moved to Bath in 2002.

Since their training days, the group, who met for their reunion in Notting Hill, London, have worked for celebrities including Diana Ross and author Danielle Steel.

The women spoke about their training, which today includes escape driving and martial arts, as well as psychology, child health, philosophy and social sciences.

The 130-year-old institution is the world's oldest childcare training center and produces nannies for the rich and famous, including the royal family.

Graduate nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo cares for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Mary Robinson, 60, from Norfolk, was the main organizer of the reunion, and she was a babysitter for singer Will Young when he was a baby.

“I just feel like this is a day that needs to be recognized and remembered,” she said.

'I haven't seen most of these people in forty years. It's absolutely fantastic to be all together again.'

Mary, who now works in a children's hospital, still considers working as a nanny in Norland to be the best time of her life.

'It's the best job in the world. It's just so incredibly rewarding,” she added.

“If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would without a doubt.

'As a Norlander you have the opportunity to expand. You're flying at the top and with that level of experience you can get a job anywhere.

“I've worked for prominent families, and you have to protect those children to the death.”

Norland's nannies are often referred to as the real Mary Poppins, a nickname that Mary says followed her throughout her life.

“I was called Mary Poppins by all the families I worked for because my name is Mary,” she explained.

'To this day I still get birthday and Christmas cards addressed to Mary Poppins.'

Karen Ibbot, 60, from Somerset, works part-time as a nanny and is in tears as she hugs her old friends.

Forty years after graduating, she still enjoys working with children.

“Children keep you young,” she said.

'The children I work for now are lovely and I couldn't wish for a nicer family.

'They make me laugh every day. I'm always smiling and laughing in this job.

“The other day one of the kids turned to me and said, 'Karen, I'm going to marry you.'

'I told him he wouldn't marry anyone for years. His response was, “I guess you'll be dead by then.”

Another sitter, Gilly Waugh, 60, from London, says Norland's sitters are completely unique and different from all the others.

“The intensity and detail of the training is second to none,” she said.

'It is a completely unique way of training that we have experienced there, nowhere else.'

Katherine Jenkins, 60, from Herefordshire, was also present.

Known as Kitty, she says the skills she learned at school were easily transferable to her career as a cabin crew member.

“If there were ever kids on board, they would send me because I was experienced,” she explained.

'I didn't know what I wanted to do growing up, I just knew I loved children.

“My parents told me that if that was the case, I had to do it right. That's how I ended up at Norland.'

The prospect of being reunited with her classmates kept Kitty awake all night.

“I was so excited about this that I didn't sleep,” she added.

“We all lived together for 19 months. Even after all this time apart, it feels like you're walking into all your best friends' rooms.

'They're exactly the same as I remember. Ultimately, the friendships you take away are for life. It's wonderful to know they are all there.

One of these girls introduced me to my husband. It's such a special bond.'

Sharon Charane, 60, from London – nicknamed Shazzy – is a games specialist in a hospital.

'I was really apprehensive about coming last night, but I'm so glad I convinced myself. It's great to be back, I feel very nostalgic,” she said.

'We're all connected, or gelled, so a lot of people have made the effort to come from even outside London.

'It's fun work, you feel good at the end of the day. I love it, it keeps me young.'

Alison Ward, 60, from Southampton, continues to work with children as a pediatric nurse.

When asked why she enjoys working with children, she said, “It's about the only thing I can do. I've always worked with children and I don't think I could do anything else.

'I'm so happy that I still work with children.

'It's great to see everyone again. I have to admit that I didn't recognize some people at first, we all look so different.

“None of us have the same color hair as we used to, but the voices sound the same.”

The art of being a royal is making things look easy.

Right now, as the Princess of Wales begins a long recovery from abdominal surgery at home, we can see that this is not the case.

Overcoming major surgery is hard enough for anyone. For a mother of three children who is so scrutinized, it must be many times more difficult.

Catherine doesn't want to see anyone except those closest to her. Fortunately, she is well supported by her mother Carole, father Mike, sister Pippa and brother James.

She will be happy to be away from her children after a fortnight, although the fact that mum is back home means they will need her attention.

So far so normal. But it is also true that we are putting extraordinary pressure on our frontline royals.

We want them to behave with the majesty and splendor of Britain's first family, while we reserve the right to treat them as the people next door.

We're told the princess plans to 'work from bed' at Adelaide Cottage, the family home in Windsor. Wise or not, we know that a modern Windsor cannot afford to appear useless.

No matter how tired Kate feels, how vulnerable she is, she's undoubtedly trying to maintain the impossible glamor we've come to expect.

Times like these show the fine line we ask her and other royal women to tread.

Princess Diana once told me that no matter how much she was revered – adored, even – she remained nervous and insecure.

Her fans had clear ideas about who she was. She knew nothing about them.

Diana said she felt the presence of press photographers was like rape on camera. No matter what she did or said, she felt like they were there to get her. She felt powerless.

Luckily, she didn't live in the age of social media, which her daughter-in-law now has to deal with.

William and Catherine have done well to protect their children and keep them as private as possible.

It's easy to scoff at a world of privilege – of servants and nannies and endless chic fashion. And plenty do.

Just look at the fuss when it was speculated that Kate and William's nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, could earn more than £100,000.

(If so, her salary is in line with other Norland nannies with her experience. Teresa has now worked for the family since 2014, when Prince George was just eight months old.)

But while it suits us to pretend that the royals are 'basically just like us', the truth is that they are not.

They need paid help, a lot of it, just to keep the show going – and keep up the appearances we demand.

Not everyone will sympathize with the Welsh, who are in Windsor and protected 24 hours a day.

But a life of meticulous research, endless responsibility and non-stop trolling is a great price to pay for a little evening glam and a wardrobe full of designer dresses.

Diana discovered this. And who can blame Kate, sore and exhausted, if she felt something similar.

• Ingrid Seward is editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and her new book My Mother & I will be published by Simon & Schuster later this month

The tectonic plates are shifting. Denmark’s Queen Margrethe has handed over the reins of power after 52 years on the throne. 

And even that marathon shift  was overshadowed by the extraordinary 70 year reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022.

European royalty is entering uncharted waters – the more so as widespread legal changes mean that in the majority of countries, girls are now entitled to inherit the crown.

We know all about King Charles III, who after seven decades of waiting for the crown, must be one of the most closely scrutinised figures in the world.

After Sunday’s accession to the throne, King Frederik of Denmark, too, must get used to a life lived in unforgiving spotlight of publicity.

We know about Prince William. But what about the others now waiting in the wings? 

Meet the princes and princesses whose time has almost come 

Princess Leonor of Spain, 18

Leonor, Princess of Asturias and heir to the Spanish throne, is riding a wave of popular enthusiasm following her 18th birthday and a special ceremony of dedication to the constitution.

Crowds lined the streets and a country often thought of as political fractious was united. 

Leonor is the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and heir presumptive to the Spanish throne, but only  so long as her parents don’t give birth to a son. 

Spain still have male primogeniture when it comes to the crown and its succession. 

(Although the arrival of a baby brother now seems vanishingly unlikely). 

Her sister, Princess Sofía, is two years her junior. 

Leonor has been honing her skills to become queen from a young age and is believed to speak four languages.

The composed princess gave her first public speech in 2018 when she was just 13 years old to mark the 40th anniversary of the Spanish constitution.

In 2019, she delivered an impressive speech at the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards in Barcelona in four languages – Spanish, Catalan, English and Arabic.

As well as inheriting her mother’s polished sense of style, she has reportedly learned how to play tennis, sail, perform gymnastics and play the cello.

The royal made her first solo appearance without her mother and father aged 15 as she presided over the Cervantes Institute’s 30th anniversary in Madrid in 2021.

She was welcomed by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Carmen Calvo and the director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis García Montero, sitting front row at the event.

Six months later, the princess headed to Wales to study at the private Atlantic College.

Nicknamed ‘Hippie Hogwarts’, the school curriculum has included unusual activities such as Tai Chi and Tibetan literature. It has a remarkable cliff top location in a 12th century castle in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Leonor enrolled on a £67,000, two-year course to study for her International Baccalaureate diploma at the school, which she has now completed.

Meanwhile, Leonor was recently pictured at military school for the first time as she embarks upon three years of training.

The heir to the Spanish throne must complete the three years in line with tradition as she follows the path of her father, King Felipe.

It has also been revealed that the young Princess would go on to study law at university once her training with the military is complete, although her choice of university has not yet been revealed. 

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

 Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg

Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, 20

Catharina-Amalia became the heir apparent when her grandmother Queen Beatrix abdicated in 2013.

The Queen’s son, Willem-Alexander, took over as monarch and Catharina-Amalia became Princess of Orange.

Along with her sisters Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane, Catharina-Amalia spent the early years of her life at Eikenhorst Villa in Wassenaar, an affluent suburb of The Hague.

Willem-Alexander once said in an interview: ‘We do our best to be really with them – on holidays or weekends or even at breakfast in the mornings.’

The family enjoyed days out cycling and to the beach, and holidays to Argentina,  the homeland of Amalia’s mother, Queen Maxima.

The family moved to Huis ten Bosch, the royal palace in The Hague, when Willem-Alexander became monarch n 2013.

The Princess attended school at the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet in The Hague where she sat on the student council and took part in the Model United Nations of the International School of The Hague.

She decided to take a gap year before starting her degree and turned down a €1.6 million yearly allowance that she would have been entitled to when she turned 18.

Writing a letter to Prime Minister Mark Rutte, she said that she would not feel comfortable taking the money without performing royal duties. 

The letter, published by NOS, the Dutch public news broadcaster, read: ‘On 7 December 2021, I will be 18 and, according to the law, receive an allowance.

‘I find that uncomfortable as long as I do not do anything for it in return, and while other students have a much tougher time of it, particularly in this period of coronavirus.’ 

In September last year, the Princess began studying Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics at the University of Amsterdam and revealed she would live in a rented house share with her fellow students.

However, the Princess was forced to move out of her student accommodation and return to The Hague the following month fearing a gangland plot to kidnap her.

Earlier this year, the royal opened up about ‘missing normal life’ over the incident and in a clip shared by NOS, she said: ‘I’m going to be very honest, I’m still having a very hard time. 

‘I miss the normal life, the life of a student. Walking the streets, being able to go to a store,’ she added.

Her mother, Queen Maxima, spoke openly during a state visit to Sweden with her husband King Willem-Alexander and was quoted by Dutch news agency ANP saying: ‘She can hardly leave the house.

‘The consequences are very difficult for her. There is no student life for her like others have,’ she added with an unusual candour.

In an authorised biography entitled Amalia, released in 2021, the royal admitted she did not feel ready to be Queen yet.

She said she would ask her mother to step in temporarily if her father were to die suddenly.

‘But I said to my father: you just keep on eating healthy and exercising a lot,’ the teenage princess added.

Biographer Claudia de Breij revealed Amalia had a part-time job at a beachside cafe, feels self-conscious when she is recognised by members of the public and would pursue a career as a singer or equestrian – she is a keen jockey with a horse named Mojito – if she was not destined to be queen. 

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, 22

Princess Elisabeth is the eldest of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium’s four children.

The law was changed in 1991 so that the eldest child, regardless of whether they are a son or daughter, would be the next to inherit the throne. When her father became King in 2013, Elisabeth became the heir to the throne and Duchess of Brabant.

The young royal was also a former student of Atlantic College in Wales, obtaining her International Baccalaureate in 2020.

She then completed a one-year course in social and military sciences at the Royal Military Academy which is said to teach in-depth about the four components of Belgian defence: Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical.

In 2021, she was photographed at the Lagland camp in Arlon, where she marched in formation with her fellow cadets.

For the officer cadets of the Royal Military Academy, this camp is part of the last training phase for first year students, and constitutes part of the Initial Military Phase.  

In October 2021, the Princess began studying History and Politics at Lincoln College, Oxford.

According to Belgian newspaper Le Soir, the princess completed a written entrance exam in history ‘anonymously’ so that her social status would not affect her marks.

Elisabeth is believed to have chosen the course herself, in agreement with her parents, and reportedly consulted with graduates from various universities and made her decision based on what would be most useful to her in her role as queen later in life.

The high-achieving Princess, who is fluent in Dutch, French, German and English, continues to juggle her degree with military training back home.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

Today the princess plays an assured role as heir to the throne, but life was not always so straightforward. In fact, she has been unusually open about her teenage struggles with anorexia.

Victoria has found herself at the cutting edge of another struggle, also – the right of women to inherit ahead of their brothers, as had been traditional.

In 1979, Sweden was among the very first monarchies to introduce absolute primogeniture, a move only followed by the United Kingdom in 2013.

The Crown Princess, now 45 years old, began to assist her parents King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia with their work after turning 18 in 1995.

But this came at a cost, she has explained. Being first in line to the Swedish throne meant she put intense pressure on herself to the detriment of her health.

‘I wanted all the time to do and be so much more than I realistically could do, or could be,’ she said.

When she is crowned, Victoria will become the first reigning queen in the royal family of Sweden since 1818 following the parliamentary change to the Act of Succession that introduced absolute primogeniture.

In November 1997, the palace announced she was suffering from an eating disorder.

This followed an intense wave of public concern after she was photographed looking noticeably thinner in a sleeveless dress at the Order of the Innocence Ball in April of that year.

Just as the 20-year-old Victoria was due to start at Sweden’s Uppsala University, she knew she needed to get help and postponed her place, deciding to take time for herself in the United States instead.

She said: ‘In the US, I got professional help, which was really important for me. Just learning to put words to feelings and thus, be able to set limits and to not push myself too much, which I found easy. I wanted all the time so much more than I could do, or could be.’

During an interview marking her 21st birthday, she revealed she had turned a corner and thanked the media for allowing her privacy to recover.

‘It’s not always about external problems. It can also come from within, and it can happen to everyone, not only young girls but also boys’.

She added: ‘I needed time to sort things out and get my balance back again.

‘I needed to get to know myself, discover where my limits were, not constantly push myself too much.’

Although this period in her life was incredibly difficult, which she said ‘it takes time, and hurts very much’, it also led her to her husband.

She met her now-husband, Prince Daniel, 49, who was her former personal trainer following doctor-ordered sessions.

The couple were married in 2010 after a long-term relationship, and are now parents to Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland, 11, and Prince Oscar, Duke of Skåne, seven.

The mother-of-two is a full-time working member of the Swedish Royal Family, and as an ambassador in the Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy Group, she primarily works with issues concerning water and health.

Victoria admitted that to this day she continues to set a high drive for perfectionism, however, now she uses it to focus on her love for her country.

She said: ‘The downside is that you will never be completely satisfied. But it’s not entirely negative, of course, for this also applies to want to evolve and do my best. And that is what drives me to help Sweden.’

During her interview Victoria also spoke of her daughter, Princess Estelle, and how she sees a likeness in their qualities.

The Crown Princess said: ‘She is very courageous and social, and it is an asset in life and perhaps especially in the role she has. She is very curious about people.’

She explained how her daughter’s character would serve as a strength for when she ascends to the throne as Queen one day, adding that she gets her sociable nature from both her parents.

Victoria intends to let her ‘children be children’ away from the limelight and will introduce them gradually into their roles as royals, according to People.

Born in 2012, Princess Estelle is the eldest child of Crown Princess Victoria and is next in line to the Swedish throne after her mother.

The princess previously attended a preschool near Stockholm which followed the Ur and Skur outdoor teaching methods to focus on the natural world.

She now attends Campus Manilla in Stockholm where she was joined last year by her younger brother, Prince Oscar.

The young Princess Estelle regularly makes appearances with her mother Crown Princess Victoria and her father Daniel Westling.

She carried out her first royal engagement in 2014 at just two years old when she opened a ‘fairytale path’ at Linköping Castle.

Crown Prince Christian of Denmark, 18

Prince Christian of Denmark, 17, is the eldest child and only son of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary.

And following his father Frederik’s accession to the throne on Sunday, he is next in line. 

Christian was born on October 15, 2005, at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, and is known by his title of Count of Monpezat.

Prince Frederik and his wife followed the Danish tradition when naming their son – where each king alternates between the names Frederik and Christian.

This meant that a son born to Crown Prince Frederik would be called Christian.

Christian’s two middle names, Henri and John, are taken from his two grandfathers.

Just over a year later, the young Prince made his first visit to Australia at the end of 2006, with the family travelling to Tasmania to visit Princess Mary’s relatives.

Mary and Frederik chose to keep their son’s upbringing relatively private in his early years.

It wasn’t until 2012 that Christian eventually attended his first official royal engagement with his grandmother, the Queen.

His parents broke away from royal tradition when they decided to enrol him in preschool in 2007 and again in 2011 when he went on to primary school.

Christian became the first Danish royal to attend a public state school, Tranegårdskolen in Hellerup, and his siblings, Princess Isabella of Denmark, 15, and Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 10, joined him in the years that followed. 

At the start of 2020, all four of the royal children began a 12-week program at the Lemania-Verbier International School in Switzerland. But, just weeks into their studies the COVID-19 pandemic hit and they returned to Denmark.

Christian is currently undertaking the final years of his education at Ordrup Gymnasium, a public school in Copenhagen.

In June, Princess Mary’s eldest son shocked royal fans with a bold announcement ahead of his 18th birthday. The young prince will break protocol by forgoing his royal allowance to instead focus on his education.

While the future Danish King is entitled to government funding once he reaches adulthood, he will not accept payments and become a full-time royal until he is 21 years of age.

The statement to the Royal House’s Instagram page said Christian will refrain from the spotlight but one day return to making public appearances in an official capacity.

Prince Christian only appears on major events with the Danish royal family, including the recent 83rd birthday celebrations of Queen Margrethe.

There has been recent speculation that  Christian has become close to Princess Maria Chiara di Borbone-Two Sicilies.  

Prince Christian is fluent in Danish, English and French and is a keen sportsman. He plays football, rides horses and regularly takes part in runs with his parents.

And one who has faces a bit of a wait…

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, 19

Second in line to the throne after her father, Princess Ingrid is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon, 50,  and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. She is granddaughter of current ruler, King Harald V of Norway, 86.

Ingrid Alexandra will become Norway’s second female monarch after her father secured her place in the line of succession by changing the law to allow first-born daughters to ascend the throne over their younger male siblings. 

The last Norwegian queen was 600 years ago: Queen Margaret reigned over Norway, Denmark and Sweden from the late 1380s until her death in 1412. 

Ingrid has a younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus and an older half-brother, Marius Borg Høiby, who is Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship.

In an attempt by her parents to give her as ordinary a childhood as possible, Ingrid Alexandra attended the same local primary school as her half-brother.

Newspaper reports said the princess would walk to school with Marius and school officials hoped to make it a place where she could make friends and enjoy some relief from public scrutiny.

She was later moved to a private international school in Oslo so she could become fluent in English and transferred to two more schools during her education.

The princess turned 18 at the start of last year and joined her grandfather, King Harald V, on the day for a cabinet meeting at the Royal Palace as she marked her coming of age.

In the next few years, she will increase her public profile and take on more responsibilities on behalf of the royal family but will continue to focus on her education, said the palace in a statement on her 18th birthday.

The pandemic meant that formal celebrations for the princess’s birthday were postponed. But she later held a glamorous party in June 2022 to mark the event in style.

A host of European royals were invited, including Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and King Felipe VI of Spain – all of whom are godparents of the princess, with their spouses.

A group of young princesses also enjoyed the party, including Princess Estelle of Sweden, Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium – all of whom are also in line to inherit the throne in their respective countries.

Ingrid Alexandra has taken part in a number of public engagements, including opening a public sculpture park within the palace gardens in her name in 2016 to mark the 25th anniversary of King Harald V’s reign.

She was shown given Prince William and Kate a tour of the sculpture park while they visited Norway in 2018.

The royal also toured several army and air force bases in Norway to learn more about the country’s armed forces. When she ascends the throne, she will become commandant of Norway’s armies.

In 2021, she visited a female-only squadron of the army to learn more about their work and co-piloted a plane during a tour of a royal air force base.

Sitting in the backseat of an F-16 fighter jet, the teenage princess observed as a trained pilot flew it away from the base, and later was allowed to control it briefly during a flight over Northern Norway.

She was also a bridesmaid at the wedding of her godmother, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, in 2010. 

Aside from her royal duties, Ingrid Alexandra enjoys skiing, boxer and surfer, winning a gold medal in the Norwegian surfing championship for juniors in October 2020.