THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on the lookout for a nanny to
look after baby George on their trip to New Zealand and Australia in
April, Britain's Daily Mail newspaper has reported.
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| Proud mum and dad William and Kate, with their baby Prince George |
The royal couple's current nanny, Jessie Webb - who looked after Prince
William when he was a child and came out of retirement to tend George -
has reached the end of her contract.
Mrs Webb, 71, took the job on the condition that she would work only
for three months, the newspaper reported. "Mrs Webb is still at
Kensington Palace and William and Kate are keen to retain her services,
but they are discreetly looking for extra help for the month-long trip
this spring," the paper said.
The Duke and Duchess did not hire a maternity nurse after George's
birth last July. Instead the couple moved into the Middleton family home
in Berkshire so that Kate's mother, Carole, could help out.
When they moved to Kensington Palace last September, they persuaded Mrs Webb to join their household.
It had been rumoured that Carole Middleton could join the tour
Downunder to help look after George. However, aides insist that will not
be the case and the couple will instead hire a new nanny.
Prospective candidates would need to be experienced, discreet, trained
in paediatric first aid and demonstrate an ability to cope in stressful
situations, Janine Bayley of nanny recruitment agency Rock mybaby.co.nz
said.
"We have placed nannies and babysitters for some high profile families
including Hollywood actors while visiting in New Zealand," Mrs Bayley
said. "We find their expectations just the same as other families,
although we do encourage the nannies not to become star struck.
"At the end of the day, parents want someone who is responsive to their
child's needs, able to provide a quality, educational environment and
someone who knows how to have fun. Regardless of where we are in
society, we just want the very best for our children."
The royal entourage may include a housekeeper and Kate's personal hairdresser, Amanda Cook Tucker.
Royal Nannying: Five keys to success
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Mum is the word. Discretion will be vital as the ravenous media look
to exploit any means to find fresh angles on the visit. The nanny should
be occasionally seen, but certainly never heard.
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Sleep is over-rated. With near constant travel and a packed diary of
obligations to fulfil, the royal couple will be constantly on the move.
The nanny can expect to be on call 24/7.
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Say cheese. Photo ops for baby George will be par for the course and
there's every chance the nanny will get caught in the lens at some
point. A constant smile would be a good idea.
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Keep calm and carry on. George soils his nappy while meeting John Key?
No drama. It's just another day at the office. Hand me the wipes.
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A way with children. It may seem obvious, but if wee George isn't
taken with his nanny that is going to be one long trip from Kensington
Palace and back.
