Children in the Royal family are banned from playing with iPads and other electronics, and the toys they get are much more traditional - according to a former palace butler. According to sources, current royals Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte enjoy sustainable wooden toys, including blocks and wooden train sets.
When it comes to more modern brands Charlotte is a fan of Disney Princesses, whereas George is reportedly a lover of all things LEGO.
Grant Harrold, etiquette expert and former Royal Butler said, “The toys provided to the children of the Royal Family have been incredibly consistent over the years. As you can imagine, classic toys such as rocking horses, train sets and doll houses are a staple of any royal nursery, with traditional wooden toys remaining prevalent even with the current generation of Royals.
“Given the renewed focus on the Royal Family in the run up to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, it’s no surprise that toys that prove popular with the current generation of royal children have trickled down into mass appeal.”
Based on sales data and trends over the last 12 months, old fashioned wooden toys from brands such as Melissa & Doug are making a comeback, something that could be attributed to their popularity with the Royal Family. When it comes to more modern electric toys, sales have been steadily increasing year on year, with experts at BargainMax.co.uk citing educational toys as the main driver of the trend.
Grant Harrold said: “Change comes slowly to the Royal Family, and tradition is seen as absolutely essential, so it’s no surprise at all that consoles, tablets and other electronic toys are absent from the royal nursery. Some of the toys given to the current generation of Royals have been passed down through the family for decades, such as the life-sized doll house given to Queen Elizabeth when she was just six years old, and is now enjoyed by George, Charlotte and Louis.”
According to multiple sources both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge prefer to limit their kids’ screen time, with games consoles and iPads both passed over for more manual toys.
