The Royal Family holds onto certain traditions that date back centuries. Some have been replaced over time, while others continue to play a significant role in the monarchy. For royal children, certain customs start from their very first day of life. For instance, Prince William and Kate Middleton introduced their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—to the world from the hospital, and the couple regularly shares photos of them on their social media platforms.
A royal child’s life is unlike any other, even though William and Kate are reportedly trying to raise their children as normally as possible. But is it appropriate for them to share images of their children in this modern social media era without the children’s consent? Perhaps it’s time for the Royal Family to modernize further and allow their children to decide if they want to be shown publicly. If not, the potential consequences could be serious.
Since the rise of social media, people have increasingly felt compelled to share personal details from their lives. Some may overshare, while others keep it simple with posts of homemade cookies or pets. While the Royal Family has stricter social media rules than most, they do share family photos in their official capacities.
Social media has made it easier for fans to feel closer to senior Royal Family members and their children. Prince William and Kate share many photos of their kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—on their official The Prince and Princess of Wales Instagram account.
Why Prince William & Kate Middleton should stop posting pictures of Prince Louis
Typically, William and Kate post new pictures of their children on their birthdays, and the children have often been seen with their parents at royal events—though Prince Louis is still considered too young for most public engagements.
For royal fans, seeing new photos of the children online is an enjoyable way to stay updated on the royal kids. But is this really a good practice? Should William and Kate be sharing these photos online? Prince Louis is only five years old, yet he’s known worldwide. Personally, I believe it should be up to him whether his images are shared with millions.
Of course, sharing pictures of one’s children with friends and family is understandable, but for the Royal Family and other celebrities, displaying one’s child to the world may not be the best choice.
As members of the Royal Family, they are dedicated to serving the Crown. However, the royal children shouldn’t be seen as working members of the monarchy until they are of age. For that reason, it would make sense if William and Kate stopped posting pictures of their children—or at least of their youngest, Prince Louis.
Privacy and the Role of the Monarchy
As the monarchy continues to evolve, William and Kate might consider letting their children decide whether they want public lives or not. Many people feel that the Royal Family should continue sharing photos of the children at any age and that Prince Louis should accompany his parents on royal outings for the public to see. To those people, I say it’s essential to let children simply be children and to shield them from the spotlight.
“Why open the door…”
There are many reasons why Prince Louis shouldn’t be featured on social media by his parents, the primary one being his right to privacy. He is still very young and should have the choice of whether to be in the public eye.
As the Royal Family progresses with modernization, Prince William and Kate should demonstrate that they value privacy. Sharing images of their children could be seen as exploiting them to sustain public interest in the monarchy. The lack of emphasis on their children’s well-being is disappointing.
Additionally, social media often involves risks such as bullying and harassment. “Why open the door” to the possibility of Louis experiencing negative online interactions at such a young age, which could impact him in the future?
The monarchy has always maintained an aura of mystery, and over-sharing details about the royal children—including photos—diminishes that mystique.
If Prince William and Kate Middleton genuinely want their children to embrace roles as working members of the Royal Family when they are older, perhaps they should responsibly avoid displaying them publicly on social media. They will have ample opportunity for public life as they grow up.
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