In the wake of Princess Charlotte’s birthday, which is on Saturday, some are reminded that around this time five years ago, the Duke of Cambridge made a huge decision regarding how his children will grow up. He chose to make Anmer Hall, a residence gifted to him and wife Kate Middleton in 2011 and located on the Queen’s Sandringham estate, a more permanent residence for his growing family.
According to Express, royal expert Katie Nicholl reported on the decision at the time for Vanity Fair and quoted an inside source, writing, “William says there is no negotiation when it comes to his family.”
When William seemed to publically address the decision in 2016, he explained the reasoning behind it.
“I’m concentrating very much on my role as a father,” he told the BBC. “I’m a new father and I take my duties and my responsibilities to my family very seriously and I want to bring my children up as good people with the idea of service and duty to others as very important.”
“… if I can’t give my time to my children as well, I worry about their future,” he continued.
Nicholl added, “It is this worry, say friends, which lies behind the Cambridges’ controversial decision to hide away from the public gaze in Norfolk. At Anmer, William says, they are a family unit. We are a normal family. Right now it’s just a case of keeping a secure, stable environment.”