How Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton are Raising Their Kids Differently

Parenting is hard no matter who you are, but for certain celebrities it can take on a whole new level when you have to experience all the ups and downs of raising kids while in the public eye. Add to that the often ruthless media and public commentary that pits parents (especially moms) against one another and it’s a whole new ballgame. After plenty of years in the limelight, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, seems to have it down to a fine science, raising three adorable children — one of whom is a future king. Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is a former actress a little more unaccustomed with adhering to a strict set of rules, yet she’s managed to set a strong example for her infant son as she and hubby Prince Harry step away from their senior royal roles. Two different women raising their kids with their own set of values, yet still doing remarkable jobs given all the additional pressure. So instead of comparing two capable, compassionate women, we’re celebrating the positive impact they’re having on their kids’ lives.

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Kate sticks to tradition

Given Kate's pivotal role within the Royal Family — she'll likely be named Queen Consort when hubby William ascends to the throne — she's expected to toe the line when it comes to certain parenting expectations within the monarchy. One of those "expectations" comes in the form of long-established clothing for royal kids. Those adorable little knee-length shorts George and Louis wear? It's tradition (read: silent "class markers") for aristocratic boys to wear shorts until they reach a certain age when they can finally graduate to trousers. For Charlotte, it's pastel hand-smocked dresses and cardigans. Although her three tots always look like they just stepped off the page of a kids' edition of Town & Country, Kate isn't afraid to let them get a little dirty. There are plenty of not-so-tidy snaps of the kids horsing around at family events, complete with grass stains and tousled hair. She may adhere to protocol, but Kate wants her kids to have a sense of normalcy, too.

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Meghan nixes royal titles

In an effort to raise her son with some semblance of normalcy, Meghan and Harry opted to forgo giving Archie a royal title — a historic custom that would have resulted in the newborn having his own private staff, among other royal perks. That's right, the littlest member of the Windsor clan did not inherit his father's earldom of Dumbarton. So while Archie is still seventh in line to the throne, he will never have royal engagements or duties to attend to, which, given his parents' recent departure as "senior" members of the Royal Family, should no longer come as a surprise. It's clear that Archie's privacy was a priority from day one for the former actress and UN ambassador.

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Kate limits technology

As most parents know, navigating the often muddy waters of kids and technology can be difficult. For Kate who, like most millennials, grew up without spending her younger years staring at a screen all day, has refused to let George, Charlotte and Louis engage with iPads. At all. Although the kids are allowed limited TV access every day, Kate would rather they engage with educational toys and interact with other kids outside. If that sounds more like an idyllic 1980's childhood and less like a formal royal experience, that's the point. It seems like Kate wants her kids to enjoy the type of adolescence she once enjoyed.

While Kate can set limits on screen time, here are some royal family rules she's not allowed to break.

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Meghan values privacy

From the moment they announced they were expecting, Meghan and Harry remained tight-lipped about everything from their baby's due date to where Meghan planned to give birth. In a clean break from royal expectations, she didn't even deliver Archie in the historic Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital in London as anticipated – she went with the more low-key Portland Hospital and completely avoided the traditional photo op on the hospital stairs afterward. Everything surrounding the arrival of Archie was hush-hush — right down to the final choice for his decidedly un-royal moniker.

RELATED: Here's what we can learn from new mom Meghan Markle.

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Kate likes to empower

It's one of Kate's most celebrated parenting traits: she isn't afraid to get down on the ground to play with her kids. Even when she carries on day-to-day discussions with George, Charlotte and Louis, she crouches down to meet their eyes before continuing her conversation. Although this might seem like something any good parent would do, fellow celeb mom Anne Hathaway nabbed this parenting tip from the royal. “[Kate and William] get down on the child’s level and speak to them eye-to-eye to make the child feel empowered,” the actress told The Sunday Times. “I thought that was really cool. I started doing that with [my son].”

SEE ALSO: Adorable portraits of royal kids and babies.

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Meghan prioritizes self-care

This is a big one for Meghan, and clearly has been from the moment she announced her pregnancy. Aside from being an avid yogi and health enthusiast, Meghan has placed a heavy emphasis on "me time" ever since she managed her former blog, The Tig, while living in Toronto filming Suits. Combine that passion with Harry's frequent acknowledgements that he privately suffered with mental health issues following the death of his mum, Diana, and it's a no-brainer that self-care and wellness is front and centre in the Sussex household. We wouldn't be surprised if it was one of the main reasons the couple are stepping away from their royal duties altogether. What better way to give Archie his own sense of self-worth than by removing him — as much as she can — from the paparazzi lens.

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Kate keeps calm and carries on

Celeb moms: they're just like us, right? There's no denying that toddlers are a handful — even seemingly serene royal kids. A public meltdown is always a little embarrassing for a parent — all those judgy eyes watching you struggle to have a rational conversation with an irrational three-year-old. But considering she lives her life almost entirely in the public eye, Kate has become a bona fide master at diffusing a tantrum before it gets ugly. Whether she's picking up a screaming kid (while sporting chic stilettos) or kneeling down to dole out some severe "mom eye", Kate coolly deals with the situation at hand before it escalates to a dangerous level. No doubt that calm and collected demeanor has a soothing affect on her kids.

RELATED: 25 times Kate Middleton was just a regular mom.

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Meghan is open about her struggles

"Thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I'm OK." It was the soundbite heard across the globe as Meghan tearfully admitted on camera (while filming an ITV documentary) how difficult it is to raise a newborn in the public eye. It resonated with many new moms — the isolation, the emotions, the loneliness. Many took to social media to praise the duchess for her raw and genuine response in lieu of harmful, scripted PR fluff. With her simple statement she nixed the cliche that all moms are superheroes and don't suffer from postpartum depression. Considering Meghan can't step out the front door without people judging her parenting skills — she was chastised for holding Archie "incorrectly" in this photo — it's refreshing to hear her open up about life in the limelight with a baby. The struggle is real, and Archie will likely take his cues from his mom as he grows up and handles his own emotional and mental battles.

SEE ALSO: Royal baby Archie and all his royal cousins' net worth.

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Kate avoids special treatment

Although Kate and Meghan go about it differently, both women essentially want their kids to lead relatively normal lives despite their wealth and fame. Which is why Kate does her utmost to keep her kids' royal appearances to only a handful of events a year. One of those annual events, however, is the charming walk they take for the kids' first day of school. Kate and William are always on hand to drop off George and Charlotte to make sure they've met with their teacher and classmates before the day begins. And, in case you were wondering, staff and students don't refer to the little royals by their titles — they're simply listed as George and Charlotte Cambridge on the attendance call-sheet and they adhere to all the same rules as their peers. No special treatment here.

SEE ALSO: 10 most outrageous school tuitions celebs pay for.

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Meghan Emphasizes Diversity

Given her own biracial heritage (not to mention the rampant racism and sexism she continues to endure at the hands of the media), Meghan will no doubt instill Archie with all the lessons and values she's learned from travelling the world and meeting people from different backgrounds. From her UN Women's work in Africa prior to meeting Harry to uprooting to Canada, Meghan is already demonstrating the importance of embracing other cultures and countries. During her short career as a duchess, Meghan has upended some of the stuffier royal traditions in favour of a more down-to-earth outlook on life — something Archie will benefit from greatly over the years.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The best winter coats Meghan Markle has ever worn.

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