Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hand her mum Doria key role in break from royal tradition
While Prince William and Kate Middleton may have splurged on a highly-paid Norland nanny for their three children, it seems that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are taking things in a more traditional direction.
Insider sources reveal that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have opted to keep childcare within the family, with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, stepping into the role of babysitter.
Their decision comes after numerous unsuccessful experiences with professional caregivers over recent years, as reported by the Express.
An inside source revealed: "Harry and Meghan have employed various nannies in the past, but now that Doria has moved in with them, she's stepped up to help with the kids."
"Although there's sometimes additional assistance, Doria is working closely with Meghan to ensure the little ones are brought up in a tightly-knit and loving family environment", reports the Daily Record.
The Sussexes initially hired Lorren Khumalo, a paediatric nurse and consultant, to take care of their son, Prince Archie, shortly after his birth.
At this time, they were living at Frogmore Cottage in the UK before making the big announcement to step down from their Royal duties and relocate to the Unites States.
In an interview last year, Lorren reminisced about her first trip to Frogmore Cottage to meet Prince Harry and Meghan. Despite getting a speeding ticket on the way, Harry's laid-back and friendly demeanour made her feel comfortable, describing the house as very much "normal" and Harry as one who favoured going "barefoot."
It was also reported that Meghan and Harry were forced to dismiss a night nanny after an unsettling night time incident with Archie, which made them wary of subsequent hires.
This incident, detailed in Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand's biography "Finding Freedom," described how the couple had to let the nurse go on her second night for being "unprofessional and irresponsible."
The experience reportedly left the Duke and Duchess of Sussex nervous about their next nanny, despite her competent performance. Consequently, they decided to handle night duties themselves while employing a day nanny who worked weekdays.
When living in the UK, Harry and Meghan preferred not to have their home filled with staff, opting instead for a nanny who did not live at Frogmore Cottage.
They valued their home being "cosy and private," enjoying nights with just the family and, according to the source, this is the approach that the couple now takes with both Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, two.
An insider claimed that Meghan feels "more comfortable" with her children being looked after her mother, as she and Harry are "extremely protective" of their offspring.
Doria is said to have been "instrumental" in taking care of Archie and Lilibet whilst Meghan and Harry undertook their tour of Nigeria.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Doria had moved into her and Prince Harry's California mansion's guesthouse to lend a helping hand.
The yogi and mother-of-one relocated to the Sussexes sprawling home in Montecito, bypassing the lengthy journey from her Los Angeles residence in View Park-Windsor Hills.
An insider confessed: "Doria spends nearly all of her time with Harry and Meghan. It's basically a family of five," before going on to say how Doria has a solid bond with the children, adding "She [Doria] is amazingly close to the children and helps Meghan daily. She also steps in as a nanny whenever they travel abroad without the children."
This parenting style is a stark contrast to that of Prince William and Kate's. The Prince and Princess of Wales, aged 41 and 42 respectively, have always relied on Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, a nanny from the prestigious Norland Agency, since Prince George was just eight months old.
Maria remains a staple in the Cambridge home, contributing to the raising of Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, and plays an essential role in aiding Kate, especially as she's now recovering from cancer at home.
