Kate Middleton's surprising rule for her George, Charlotte and Louis' playtime 

When you think about the playtime of royal children, you might picture them discussing politics, reciting Shakespeare, or sipping tea - well that isn't the royal children of today so think again

You probably think that playtime for royal children would be completely different to those with no claim to the monarchy and not in single digits in the succession line - but you are wrong.

When you think about the playtime of royal children, you might picture them discussing politics, reciting Shakespeare, or sipping tea. However, according to a leading nannying expert, the reality for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis is quite different, thanks to one surprising rule from their mother, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales - “the muckier, the better.”

Kate and William have made sure to keep their children grounded whether it’s attending a Taylor Swift concert, a football match or digging up dirt, the royal children are as much like any other children in the UK. Revealing how she believes Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince George spend their free time together, Louise told Hello!: "There will be lots and lots of outdoor play. Lots of bike rides, playing with their dogs, potentially some gardening."

One particular activity that’s a family favourite is gardening. Prince Louis, in particular, is said to have developed a passion for it, much like his grandfather, King Charles III, known for his lifelong love of nature and horticulture. Kate’s belief of “the muckier the better” can be seen to be carried over into her work too. The Duchess of Cambridge has long advocated for outdoor play, frequently highlighting the benefits of spending time in nature. Her passion for the outdoors is something she shares with her children. Gardening, in particular, has featured heavily in her public work, including her Back to Nature garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, which she designed to inspire families to connect with nature. Much of Kate’s work focuses on helping children and her mantra shows that she has learned and adopted much of what she has learnt through her work with her own children.

Messy play helps children explore their imagination, and curiosity and lets them explore the world around them. Research has shown that by letting children experience different object and raw materials their imaginations can run wild and this will help stimulate their curiously and develpo their knowledge.