How Prince William and Kate Middleton Are Handling Homeschooling

Families across the globe are facing “ups and downs” as they continue to self-isolate at home and protect themselves against the ongoing pandemic. This includes the royal family. Recently, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, opened up about how their family has been handling self-isolation, homeschooling and the importance of paying attention to mental health right now.

In the interview, conducted with BBC, the Duchess explained that the couple was trying to share COVID-19 related news with their children, Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 1, in an age-appropriate way. “It’s been ups and downs, like a lot of families self-isolating," she said. “George is much older than Louis is, but they are aware…Although you don’t want to scare them, and make it too overwhelming, I think it is appropriate to acknowledge it in the simple ways, in an age-appropriate way.”

When it comes to homeschooling, Prince William said it’s been “fun,” while Catherine added with a laugh that her kids haven’t missed a single day of school. “Don’t tell the children we’ve actually kept it going through the holidays,’’ she said. "I feel very mean. But the children have got such stamina, I don’t know how, honestly. You get to the end of the day, you write down all the list of the things you’ve done in that day. You sort of pitch a tent, take the tent down again, cook, bake, you get to the end of the day, they’ve had a lovely time. It’s amazing how much you can cram into one day, that’s for sure.”

The Kensington Royal Instagram, account recently posted a video showing the three kids applauding health care workers, first responders and other on the front lines fighting the pandemic.

The couple also mentioned in the interview how important it is to pay attention to mental health during this time and ensure health care workers don’t feel stigma if they do experience mental health issues while experiencing all this high-level stress.

“A lot of them are putting their lives and their health on the line for all of us,’’ William said. “But I’ve also been hearing that there are those working in the NHS who understandably are nervous, are anxious, and this hero tag that we’re attaching to the NHS workers, albeit it’s totally valid, we’ve got to be careful we don’t alienate some of the other NHS workers who do really genuinely worry and are scared going to work every single day.”

When asked about the advice he would give to grieving families as someone who has experienced trauma in his own past—Prince William lost his mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash when he was 15 years old—he replied, “Trauma comes in all sorts of shapes and forms, and we can never know or be prepared for when it’s going to happen to us. People are going to feel angry, they’re going to feel confused, they’re going to feel scared. That is all normal feelings, and that is unfortunately all part of the grieving process.”

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.