The Prince and Princess of Wales routinely break so-called "royal protocol" regarding their three children. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are given top priority, and William and Kate's practical approach is to see everything as centered on them, the Mirror reports.

The couple has hired the talents of nanny Maria Borraro, but they do not live together at their four-bedroom Windsor home, Adelaide Cottage. Rather than hiring a nanny or staff, William and Kate attend school-age care with their three children enrolled at Lambrook School. George is in the 5th grade at Lambrook, Charlotte is in the 3rd grade, and Louis has just finished his pre-prep reception class and will be on summer break.

"Kate said the children were settling into their new school well and making new friends," Lydia Bailey told People shortly after the family of five moved from Kensington Palace in London to Windsor in early September last year.

For the Welsh couple, "everything is about the children," a palace official said. 'William and Princess Catherine take turns attending the school nursery. Kate is adamant that family comes first, and that rule shapes everything they do and every engagement."

Kate's affinity for non-traditional royal childcare is especially evident around birthdays and holidays, the Mirror reports. Kate tries to pass on Middleton family traditions to her own family," the magazine wrote. Every year, on the eve of the children's birthdays, Kate bakes a homemade cake for the birthday boy or girl late into the night. Yesterday was George's milestone 10th birthday, and Kate reportedly made Victoria Sponge for the occasion.

And homemade birthday cakes are not the only "normal" birthday tradition that Welsh children participate in. Even though this year Prince George held his birthday party on the grounds of Windsor, rather than at the local bowling alley," the Mirror reported. 'Like all 10-year-olds, he threw a party and invited a group of his good friends from school.'

During the vacation, the family of five liked to blend in with other tourists, as when they visited longtime royal favorite Mustique (Princess Margaret loved her stay on the island). The private island has a no-fly zone and guests who stay there are discreet, making it an ideal place for the family to "truly relax and let their hair down," the Mirror reported.

William and Kate's affinity for doing things their own way began as early as 10 years ago today, when they introduced newborn George to an anxiously waiting crowd on the famous steps of the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in London, where he was born at 4:24 pm the previous day.

To avoid embarrassment, William and Kate did everything they could, including practicing the car seat moment that anyone who saw the car seat in 2013 remembers, the Mirror reports: "With all eyes on the newborn, Prince William took the family to Kensington He managed to attract a lot of attention by effortlessly fitting the car seat before dropping them off at the palace. Kate said on the "Happy Mum, Happy Baby" podcast, "I practiced it over and over so I wouldn't have to fumble in front of the waiting crowd."

"We were like, 'What are we going to do with the swaddle? '"[19] Kate said. 'I once tried to practice at home with a baby who looked like a little doll, but things don't always go according to plan, so it was pretty difficult to do that on the world stage. But no, he did a very good job."

Originally, William and Kate had avoided having a babysitter and had retreated to the Middleton home in the Berkshires. They soon found that difficult, as George was up at least six times each night. New dad Prince William found this particularly taxing as he tried to juggle parenting and royal duties," the Mirror reported.

"William had no idea how hard it would be," one royal source said of William's first days of parenting. 'He uses the odd tactic of crooning Coldplay anthems at all hours. Even Kate's parents can't sleep. His favorite song is 'Paradise,' and he also loves 'Yellow. Coldplay isn't even his favorite band, but George responds to their songs the best and settles in."

I can't imagine Prince Charles or Queen Elizabeth doing that to a newborn. It's truly a new world order.