Kate Middleton, Prince William, family

Just likePrincess Dianabefore her,Kate Middletonis known as a hands-on royal mom.

While her duties as the Duchess of Cambridge increase as Queen Elizabeth continues to hand off more and more responsibilities to senior working members of the royal family, Kate makes sure to prioritize parenting her three children —Prince George, 8,Princess Charlotte, 6, andPrince Louis, 3.

Kate “runs things at home with the kids and the schedules,” a friend recently told PEOPLE. “She is hugely involved in every single part of their day.”

The royal mom has opened up about life at the Cambridge home, and insiders have shared some of her secrets to a happy family.

  1. Encourage kids to be outside

Promoting gardens to foster active play is the public face of a role Kate also takes seriously at home, where she gets her kids out rain or shine.

“It makes a huge difference,” she told the BBC.

Kate also said in a podcast last year that herfavorite times with her familyare “outside in the countryside and we’re all filthy dirty.”

  1. Make time for family fun

The couple often takes their kids on bike rides and excursions to the sand dunes of Norfolk’s beaches near their country home.

“They are playful,” says scout leader Eddie O’Rourke.

The Cambridges also schedule getaways together. Their Christmas portrait in 2021 was a shot from a private family vacation to Jordan taken that summer.

  1. Be a “present parent”

The couple is hands-on, friends say, both in the morning (when the kids argue over songs to play at breakfast) and at school pickup.

“Kate likes to keep an ordinary life,” a source adds.

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After the kids head to bed, Kate andPrince Williamwind down from the day in a relatable way.

“William will bring Kate a gin-and-tonic,” a family friend tells PEOPLE. “They look after each other, but in different ways.”

source: people.com