Royals British Royal Family How Kate Middleton's 'Different Background' Helps Prince George Balance Childhood and Royal Duty (Exclusive) The Princess of Wales grew up outside the royal fold, inspiring a new kind of upbringing for future monarch Prince George By Simon Perry Simon Perry Simon Perry is a writer and correspondent at PEOPLE. He has more than 25 years’ experience at PEOPLE covering the royals, human interest and celebrity. People Editorial Guidelines and Stephanie Petit Stephanie Petit Stephanie Petit is a Royals Editor, Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 12, 2023 08:00AM EDT Close Kate Middleton and Prince George. Prince George is getting ready to celebrate a milestone birthday when he turns 10 on July 22, and his parents — Kate Middleton and Prince William — are working to ensure he has a normal childhood while simultaneously preparing him to someday take the throne. "It's a massive balancing act," one palace insider tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week's cover story. "William and Kate are doing the right thing, protecting him so he can have as normal a childhood as possible, but he's also dipping into duties as a future monarch." The insider adds, "He’s getting firsthand experience of what it’s like to be a royal and a monarch and firsthand experience of being a normal boy." RELATED: School's Out for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis! How They'll Spend Their Summer Prince George with his family at Trooping the Colour 2023. Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince George's unique role was apparent at King Charles' coronation in May when he acted as one of his grandfather's Pages of Honor during the crowning ceremony. While his younger siblings — Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 — joined the congregation at Westminster Abbey, George became the youngest future king to play an official role in a coronation. "He was terrific," says a close family friend. Prince William and Princess Kate, both 41, were aware of the pressure their eldest child would feel in the spotlight but felt he was ready for the task. Adds a guest, "The service was emotional and family-oriented and very inclusive — and George played his part." Prince George acts as a Page of Honor at King Charles' coronation on May 6. Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images But at home, Prince George has a very different upbringing than previous heirs to the throne, thanks in large part to his mother's childhood outside the royal fold. "Coming from a different background, she appreciates theimportance of having family time," says a source close to the royal household. "She wasn't brought up in that aristocratic setting where you see the children for a short time each day." RELATED: Kate Middleton Explains How Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Are All Different (Exclusive) Kate Middleton, Prince William and Prince George during a volunteer day in May 2023. DANIEL LEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Although they have the help of longtime nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, Princess Kate regularly drives her kids to school and makes sure she or Prince William is home most evenings for their return. The family of five often gathers in the kitchen to make kid-friendly dinners and decorate cakes. “The princess asked if we make our own dough and said that they love making pizzas with their children,” says Pete Morris, whose Little Dragon Pizza Van the couple visited in Wales in April. And Kate recently used an official outing to ask The Great British Bake Off finalist Alice Fevronia for tips on making a smooth frosting. Kate Middleton and Prince George at Trooping the Colour 2023. Samir Hussein/WireImage The Princess of Wales has also talked about the family's love of the outdoors. In a 2020 interview on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, Kate said she was happiest when "I'm with my family outside in the countryside, and we're all filthy dirty." "Someone did ask me the other day, what would you want your children to remember about their childhood?" she continued. "And I thought that was a really good question, because actually if you really think about that, is it that I'm sitting down trying to do their maths and spelling homework over the weekend? Or is it the fact that we've gone out and lit a bonfire and sat around trying to cook sausages that hasn't worked because it's too wet?" Kate's parents are also heavily involved in Prince George and his siblings' lives, with Carole Middleton taking George to his favorite candy shop, Mable’s Paint Pot, and on other outings in Kate’s hometown of Bucklebury. Prince George, Prince Louis and Kate Middleton roast marshmallows in May 2023. DANIEL LEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Prince William and Princess Kate "consciously set out to achieve a sense of normality," says a close source, and the couple was expressly permitted by Queen Elizabeth and then-Prince Charles to focus on family above royal duties. "Royal families over the generations haven't had the chance to get those foundations right, but they have,” says a friend.