Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have two "perfect" role models in the shape of two unlikely royals - who are themselves "spares to the spare".
The young royals, who could be considered the "spares" to future King, Prince George, the first born child of Prince Wiliam and Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, should look to Prince Edward, the new Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, for how to go about their life as working royals.
Edward and Sophie have been hailed as the perfect role models for Charlotte and Louis due to their successful roles within the Royal Family. The couple recently carried out a historic ceremony on behalf of King Charles, marking 120 years of friendly relations between Britain and France.
Their rise to prominence has been a long time coming, according to former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond.
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Jennie told OK!: "They thoroughly deserve the recognition they are now getting".
She added that despite their work often being overshadowed by other royals, they have remained devoted to their causes. As they take on more prominent roles, they are proving themselves up to the task and serving as excellent examples to their great nephews and niece.
The term 'spare to the heir' is a well-known Royal phrase, being what Prince Harry claims his father, King Charles, said to his mother, Princess Diana, upon Harry's birth. Harry claimed Charles said: "Wonderful! Now you've given me an heir and a spare – my work is done." And while there have been many famous spares throughout history, including the late Queen's father, King George VI, the word is now synonymous with Prince Harry's controversial memoir.
It is a position which has notoriously come with question marks attached as the Royal struggles to carve out a life for themselves in the shadow of the crown.
Jennie added: "They [Edward and Sophie] have always been quietly devoted to their various causes, but their work has been overshadowed by other royals. I suppose every cloud has a silver lining... and as the King calls on them to take a more prominent role, Edward and Sophie are showing they are very much up to the task.
"They are also serving as excellent role models to their great nephews and niece - showing that you can be a 'spare' or even a 'spare to the spare' and make a real success of working as a valued member of the Royal Family."
But among the many benefits of the Prince and Princess of Wales ' preference for gentle parenting directed by what Kate has learned from her studies of early years education, it is clear that the couple will be striving to normalise their younger children's lives with the hope that they never feel like working as royals is their only option.
"William and Kate must be acutely aware of the problems for a royal spare", Jennie explains. "They have already shown that they have a different and modern attitude to bringing up royal children and I'm sure they will do everything to make Charlotte and Louis feel every bit as special, loved and valued as George.
"I imagine they will encourage Louis to explore life outside the royal fold... it could be the military, but it could also be working in the charity world or whatever he finds appealing after his education is finished. I'm sure they will encourage him to go to University, which they both enjoyed and where, of course, they found love.
"And from there they will want him to find a life that is meaningful to him as well as appropriate for the son of a future King. They will try to ensure that he feels he is living a life of value, irrespective of his place in the line of succession and that will probably involve service of some kind as they have emphasised from the start that they want their children to understand that having empathy with others is not only a kindness, but is rewarding as well."
Edward and Sophie have seen their popularity and recognition within the Royal Family soar over the past 13 months, since being given new titles. The pair are increasingly front and centre at crucial events, stepping in for the King while he prioritises his health recovery.
Prince Edward is a trusted supporter of the arts sector, taking up his late father's Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme mantle. Meanwhile, Sophie champions gender equality tirelessly, raising critical awareness around issues like female genital mutilation (FGM) and avoidable blindness prevention.
Away from participating in Royal duties or representational roles on behalf of the King, Edward and Sophie, along with their two children - Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, 20 and 16 respectively - reside at Bagshot Park close to the Windsor Estate, whenever they're not away studying at university or school.