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Royal nannies: Stunt-driving, martial arts and other 007 skills to protect the princes and princesses

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Mary Poppins who?
Mary Poppins who?

Nothing about royal life is ordinary, so it only makes sense that royal caregivers come highly educated and uniquely trained.  

More tradition than rule, the jury is still out on whether or not parents-to-be Meghan and Harry will hire a nanny when their little one arrives, but the odds are likely the two will follow in the footsteps of Will and Kate. 

When their first child, Prince George, was born in 2013, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hired their current nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. 

Maria has since remained with the family, caring for George's younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. 

Educated at the prestigious nanny school, Norland College, where the prospectus reads more M16 than early child development, royal nannies are trained to do more than just babysit. 


For all things royal, check out Channel24's Royal Hub 

Also see: Meghan's mom Doria fuels royal baby rumours

Will the next royal baby be a boy or girl? What names do you think Meghan and Harry would settle on for their son or daughter? Tell us, and we could publish your opinion. Anonymous contributions are welcome.


A royal education

Easily identified via a rather (erm) interesting uniform, Norland has garnered a serious rep as one of the most highly acclaimed nanny training schools the world over. Students go through rigorous training costing around £14,850 (nearly R280 000) a year and must complete 4 years to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Years Development and Learning.

The Norland syllabus touches on a wide range of fields including "psychology, child health, history, philosophy, social science, literature and education."  

Five-star training

Cooking and nutrition also form part of the learning agenda of a royal nanny, and at Norland, that means learning to cook meals from scratch, and creating menus that would fulfill the daily nutritional needs of children regardless of their age. 


Also see: IN PICTURES: What Prince William and Queen Elizabeth looked like as babies


Tai Kwan (oh yes she) Do

With high-profile clients, come high-risk factors and royal nannies receive the kind of training usually reserved for military intelligence officers. Efficient in martial arts, Maria and other Norland graduates may look demure but underneath their uniforms lie some dangerous child-minders. 

Getaway driver

Sometimes life in a fishbowl calls for a hasty getaway. To make sure their graduates know how to make a quick exit, Norland students are trained in the kind of driving more suited to a stunt man than a nanny. Evasive driving is yet another discipline royal nannies must master, a necessary skill for dodging photographers, or worse, kidnappers. 


Also see: Henry Charles Albert David, Rachel Meghan and more royal baby names!


Mary who?

Here's where things get more typical of what you'd expect from nanny training. Norland graduates are schooled in sewing and dressmaking, as well as the more day-to-day basics like feeding and sleeping routines, as well as diaper duties and playtime activities. 

The list of duties and requirements of a royal nanny go on and on, and in reality, these ladies are more like managers than additional help but this high level of service comes with big rewards. 

In an interview with Business Insider, Vice Principal at Norland, Mandy Donaldson, shared the salary scale of royal nannies. 

"Once nannies are qualified... they can earn between £26,500 and £42,000, or £35,000 to £60,500 outside of London. Overseas, this figure goes up to £75,000." 

The work may be intense but maybe an early retirement makes it all worth it?

Chat back:

Will the next royal baby be a boy or girl? What names do you think Meghan and Harry would settle on for their son or daughter? Tell us, and we could publish your opinion. Anonymous contributions are welcome.

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Also see: Parent like the royals: 3 ways the Duchess of Cambridge gets Princess Charlotte to listen

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