Royal MOMS

They all found their princes and had fairytale weddings. Now Kate, Meghan and Sophie are rewriting the royal rulebook on motherhood

- ALISON EASTWOOD

They have different destinies and lead very different lives. But Kate, Princess of Wales, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, are united not only in their origins as “commoners” who married royal princes, but also in their desire to take parenting to the next level by raising confident, compassionate children – on their own terms.

This Mother’s Day, we take a closer look at these three inspiring royal wives and their maternal instincts – from Princess Kate’s hands-on, hearts-first approach to Sophie’s low-key, values-driven parenting to Meghan’s fiercely protective California-style nurturing.

NAVIGATING TRADITION

On the road to motherhood, each had to balance personal challenges with public expectations. Sophie, 60, nearly lost her life during the emergency caesarean birth of daughter Lady Louise Windsor in 2003 and has since shared how the trauma deepened her appreciation for parenthood and led her to be a lifelong advocate for neonatal health care.

Kate, 43, was hospitalized with hyperemesis gravidarum – a severe form of morning sickness - while expecting Prince George in 2013 and Princess Charlotte in 2015, forcing her to cancel engagements and rest for extended periods. At a time when her role demanded poise and productivity, her experience served as a reminder to fans that even royal pregnancies don’t always go smoothly.