One would expect that Prince George, the future King of England, would have a suitably royal bedroom, despite being just five years old. Prince William and Duchess Kate’s son is third in line for the British throne, after his grandfather Prince Charles, and his father. Young Prince attends a private Christian school, described as “the best English education money can buy.” With a price tag of $24,000 per year, it better be.
The latest generation of royal parents seems to have different ideas when it comes to home decoration. While they obviously put a high value on education, when it comes to kids’ bedroom, they prefer more down to earth approach. Instead of fairytale rooms, Prince George is filled with Ikea furniture, just like his sister Princess Charlotte’s one. During a visit to the National Museum of Architecture and Design in Stockholm, Duchess Kate met with the head of Ikea design Marcus Engman and she didn’t fail to mention how much her children enjoy their Swedish furniture. As expected, Engman was delighted to hear that: “I’m proud that we can suit everybody. That’s what we want IKEA to be – for the many people of the world, both royalty and ordinary people.”
The decision to furnish their children’s rooms with Ikea was met with some resistance and consternation within the Royal family, but William and Kate stuck to it. Ikea furniture for children is very popular with young parents, since it is well-designed and affordable, so if something gets destroyed during a rowdy playtime, it doesn’t cost a fortune to replace. One source close to the Royal family said this about William and Kate’s decision: “While they feel it’s important to make them aware of their backgrounds, it’s also vital for both George and Charlotte to have as much normalcy in their lives as possible.”
Prince Charles shares a playroom with Princess Charlotte, but there are no electronic devices there, as their parents don’t approve of them.
“As two people who grew up without gadgets for entertainment themselves, William and Kate are firm believers in toys, outdoor play and encouraging an active imagination. They’re very much a normal family,” the same source said.
