Could you raise ROYALTY?

Gillian Harvey tested the techniques used by the most revered nanny agency in the UK

- GILLIAN HARVEY

Let's face it, lockdown has been tough for parents. We're juggling jobs with homeschooling, and Lmany would love a bit of help. So, I looked to the best in childcare for inspiration. Norland nannies are carers to the rich and famous - including, of course, the Cambridges. Armed with a brown uniform and a set of rules, Maria Borrallo began working for the royals in 2014, and she's been indispensable. So what tricks does she have? And would they keep my children - Lily, 10; twins Joe and Tim, eight; Evie, six, and Robbie, five - entertained?

DAY ONE

Bedtime

Norland nannies insist on an early bedtime of 7 pm. I love being a mum, but can't help but also crave that window of time we have when the kids are in bed and I can watch TV. Bedtime is usually 8 or 9 pm for my lot, but they didn't complain as much as I thought they would when I asked them to change into their pyjamas a whole hour earlier. We read stories, tucked them in, switched off lights and wished them goodnight - all by 7.30 pm! Of course, none of them managed to drop off and our evening was peppered with tousle-haired visitors, requests for glasses of milk, and suspicious pattering footsteps. Not the best start.

DAY TWO

Going bilingual