Oh, Dad!
King Charles made the decision when his children were young to “put work first,” a senior palace source told royal reporter Robert Jobson, and that's something Prince William and Princess Kate will never do, the expert explains in the upcoming book, “Catherine, Princess of Wales.”
Jobson wrote in the Daily Mail that the heir to the throne “doesn't blame either of his parents” for his problems, and indeed Prince William admires his father's dedication. But Prince Charles “feels that his father's prioritization of his career had a negative impact on his growing up years and on the father-son relationship.”
The King's choice to retreat “to the safety of his work” left Princes William and Harry “feeling a little lost and alone in their childhoods”, the source said.
As a result, Jobson said Prince William has made being an “active father” a priority and is focused on showing off his close bond with his son George. He wants “his three children to look back on their childhoods with a sense of love,” a goal that Kate fully supports.
Jobson said Prince William now has a close relationship with his father, even more so since Prince Harry started “launching missiles from California”.
While Prince William may have chosen to pursue a different parenting style, Kate reportedly wanted to make it clear to the royal family that she would always put her children first.
The princess “insisted” on taking complete maternity leave, away from the scrutiny of the public.
Jobson said the Queen and Prince Charles responded well to her request when she was pregnant with Princess Charlotte in 2015.
“It turned out he was pushing against an open door,” Jobson wrote. “Diana had often complained to the Queen that she had always felt like an outsider, and the last thing the Queen wanted was for the same to be repeated with Kate.”
