Kate Middleton may be the Princess of Wales, but to her nieces and nephews, she’s just like any other aunt. (Well … at least in one way.) In a new interview with Hello!, Kate’s brother James Middleton revealed that his 11-month-old son Inigo gets his older cousins’ hand-me-downs from Aunt Kate.
Which is surprisingly normal — the idea that Kate packs up old clothes from her kids Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 to give to her brother and sister Pippa Middleton’s kids. It’s also just downright surprising. You’re telling me royal hand-me-downs are a thing? Kate doesn’t have to keep their clothes for a future museum exhibit or royal auction?
“[The clothes] are milestones, because [my sisters] remember when their child was wearing something, and how old they were – it takes them back,” James said. “It’s been a lovely thing for them.”
Clothes aren’t the only thing James’ sisters give him. He’s also been given a lot of advice
“It’s been wonderful, seeing them become mothers and being so dedicated and strong,” he said. “I’m in awe of that.”
“I’ve been fortunate to see how my sisters have done it, and take tips along the way – some I take on board, and others I’m like: ‘Hmm,'” he added cheekily.
The author also gave a sliver of insight into Inigo’s relationship with his royal cousins. “He’s fortunate to have older cousins who can now pick him up and show him things, and as he grows up, they’ll be able to look out for him. There’s definitely an element of curiosity [about] a baby that they have.”
In an excerpt from his upcoming memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, James shared that curiosity has been part of Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s nature for a long time. He recounted the unplanned way his royal family members met his wife Alizee Thevenet for the first time.
When the two were dating, they decided to spontaneously spend the night at his childhood home after attending a wedding nearby. He woke to the sound of giggling from his oldest nephew and niece. He ushered them downstairs and was about to bring a cup of tea up to Alizee when she appeared at the kitchen door with tousled hair and wearing one of his shirts.
“I’m about to take a cup up to Alizee when she appears at the kitchen door,” Middleton said, per an excerpt from The Daily Mail. “She has just got out of bed, her hair still tousled, and she is wearing one of my shirts.
“In situations like this, Alizee is wonderfully French,” he said. “She does not panic or rush upstairs to get dressed. Instead, she just greets everyone warmly as if it’s not remotely unusual to be meeting her boyfriend’s sister and brother-in-law for the first time wearing only an oversized man’s shirt.”
Prince George and Princess Charlotte started asking “all kinds of cheeky questions at 100 miles per hour.” “How come we weren’t there when they went to bed? And who is this lady? Is she your girlfriend?” they asked.
“So I tell Charlotte and George, yes, she is my girlfriend and introduce her to them, then we are all talking and laughing as if she has been part of the family for years.”
Before you go, check out the most heartwarming and relatable photos of the royals being normal parents.
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