Secrets of George, Charlotte and Louis’s nursery – how nanny makes them behave

Maria Borrallo has one of the most prestigious child care jobs in the country right now – helping to bring up the future king.

She was hired by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when Prince George was just a few months old and now also looks after Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis .

She trained at the famous Norland College, the country's top training centre for childcare, and has a lot of experience.

Author Louise Heren spent a year at the college researching a documentary, so knows exactly what the students are taught.

Speaking to Mirror Online, she's revealed some of the techniques and tricks the nannies use to ensure kids behave – and it's likely Maria is using them on the royal children.


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She believes that despite the extraordinary lives they have ahead of them, life at home will be fairly normal.

Louise, author of Nanny in a Book , said: "Given what we have seen of Catherine when she is out in public, she's very hands on.

"I imagine her relationship with Maria is very close and they collaborate greatly on the care of the children.

"I've spoken to nannies who have worked with other royal families and life is pretty normal.

"You get up, have breakfast, you go to school and you wear your school uniform whether you like it or not.

"It would be quite like the average British school children."


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Here are some of the Norland Nannies tips and tricks:

Always involve children in planning

Once the child is old enough, Norland Nannies believe it's important to let them help plan the day.

Give them options to pick from (so you don't end up having to say "no, we can't go to Disneyland today") such as going to the park, baking a cake or reading.

Louise says: "It means that the nanny has got some control but the child has chosen what to do and is happy that they got the choice."


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Explain exactly what is going to happen when heading out

Maria's job is unique in that the children she is raising are far from normal and she has to prepare them for royal events and tours.

Louise said: "Her job is to keep them happy, safe and well but equally they need to be presentable and well behaved when they are on parade."

Before royal events she believes Maria and Kate will speak to the children to tell them exactly what is going to happen, who they are going to see and what people are going to do – for example everyone will be waving and they should wave back.


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Meal times

Norland Nannies believe routine is essential for children, especially for big parts of the day.

Louise said: "Children understand routine but they like to be informed of that routine.

"Even if lunchtime is half an hour later, the clues that lead up to it stay the same.

"Ten minutes to go, wash your hands, can you help me lay the table?"



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The nannies also use meal times as a key learning opportunity.

Setting the table involves the child counting out the right amount of cutlery for each person and the right number of plates and cups.

They can also practice their colours when picking out different items.

The nannies also try to give children choices when it comes to their dinner. For example, which two vegetables would you like today?

This allows them a choice and also means you have a response if they are unhappy about eating it.

Louise said: "If they are informed beforehand you don't get a grizzly child."

Bedtime

Much like meal times, routine is key.

Bath, pajamas and a bedtime story every night help the child know it's time for bed.


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Louise, who has also written a book on the history of Norland College , said: "It is training resilience in the children that they are happy to be on their own in the dark at night."

Her relationship with the children

Louise said: "[Maria] will be friendly with the children but if they need a little bit of discipline she's more than able to step in and do that.

"Their approach is very nurturing and loving. It is entirely centred around the children.

"It is about training the children by example rather than just telling them.

It's about saying "why did you do that? Think about how that would have been received"."


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Make everything an opportunity to learn

The day is filled with different learning opportunities.

Nannies will ask the children to count different things.

Louise believes that Maria will probably ask the children how to say different things in Spanish and French, as they are learning both languages.

Tantrums

There isn't a set way Norland Nannies deal with tantrums, as every child is different.

But they will always try to spot the tantrum before it unfolds.

Louise says that there is normally an early trigger, so the trick the nannies are taught is to spot this earlier.

Speaking about the dreaded terrible twos, she said: "The child has the mental ability to want something but they haven't got the language ability to say 'can you get that for me'.

"The tantrum can build because you're not observing what they're trying to get or do. Frustration is building."

One word that is banned

There is one 'banned' word in the Norland College, which probably means Maria doesn't use it when referring to George, Charlotte and Louis.

According to Louis, children are always referred to children and NEVER 'kids'.

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