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The royal family has so many traditions that it can be hard to keep up sometimes. With the monarchy constantly changing in an effort to keep up with the modern world, we suspect there are a few royal traditions that might not survive the next generation. One that will likely continue, however, is the family coming together to cook and share a hearty meal. It’s a tradition Prince Philip reportedly shared with his and Queen Elizabeth II’s kids, and one Catherine, Princess of Wales and William, Prince of Wales seem to be continuing with their own brood.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady told Vanity Fair in an August 2026 interview that cooking meals together, or for each other, was an integral part of the queen and Philip’s family. The prince reportedly enjoyed grilling anything he could find, and their kids loved lending a hand. “[Philip] loved to cook and cared about foods and recipes,” McGrady shared, adding, “he would be in charge of cooking the main course.” Meanwhile, Princess Anne helped her father with grilling (of course she did, Princess Anne is a total boss), and Prince Edward enjoyed preparing sweet dishes.
Kate Middleton is continuing this tradition with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. While visiting Lavender Primary School in 2019, the princess discussed cooking with her kids. Chief Executive of the Ivy Learning Trust, Matthew Kleiner-Mann, told People, “She was telling us how much her children love cooking and how they cook for her. They made cheesy pasta the other day. One stirs the flour, one puts the milk and butter in. And they make salads and stuff.” Kate also makes pizza with her kids, and they craft their own homemade dough. “They love it because they can get their hands messy,” Kate shared during a public engagement in 2018, per Hello!
Kate Middleton is honoring some royal traditions while also prioritizing normalcy for her kids
Catherine, Princess of Wales might be the future queen, but she’s still prioritizing giving Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis as normal a childhood as possible. Kate Middleton has a unique parenting style, and she’s not raising kids who think they are better because they’re royal. “Kate has certain rules about family life that she simply will not compromise on,” a source told Radar Online. “Titles and privilege do not excuse bad behavior.” Kate shared these sentiments herself during the Place2Be Big Assembly for Children’s Mental Health Week in 2017. She noted that it’s important her kids grow up knowing how to treat others well. “In my view it is just as important as excelling at maths or sport,” the princess argued, per Marie Claire.
Kate is also raising her kids to be self-sufficient. Just like their non-royal peers, they get chores to do, with the princess once revealing during a 2022 visit to a goat farm that George was tasked with an important job during his school holidays at Sandringham. “That was George’s job at half term — moving feed,” Kate shared, per the Mirror. William, Prince of Wales added that all their children help with some farm chores. They also reportedly get their own list of tasks to do at home.
Kate is certainly on the right track. After all, former British Prime Minister David Cameron said that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip frequently used to do the dishes after hosting guests, according to royal biographer Gyles Brandreth in the book “Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait” (via Vanity Fair). If the queen could do it, so can everyone else.
