The Prince and Princess of Wales are enjoying their summer holiday with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, who will still be abiding by a set of household rules

The Waleses are said to be enjoying their summer holiday in Norfolk – and no doubt Kate has laid down some ground rules to keep the three children in check.

While they have the help of a nanny, the Prince and Princess of Wales are hands-on parents, and get stuck in with a range of activities from baking to sports events to keep the children entertained for weeks on end without school to keep them busy. But as we have seen at certain engagements, the youngest, Prince Louis, can get overexcited and act out in front of the cameras.

At the late Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, the six-year-old was seen pulling a face and sticking his tongue out when his mum was trying to quieten him down, before he then proceeded to cover Kate’s mouth. More recently, he stole the show once again at this year’s Trooping the Colour, as he was caught mischievously playing with the blind chord before heading out onto the famous Buckingham Palace balcony with his relatives.

Princess Charlotte, nine, has also been caught on camera sticking her tongue out. But the mum-of-three, 42, reportedly uses a ‘secret code’ phrase to get the royal kids to behave – and it works every time.

Royal expert Tom Quinn said in his book Gilded Youth, An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family: “When Prince Louis misbehaved at the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee for example, by sticking his tongue out at this mother, Kate’s reaction was praised by a team of expert commentators.

“She apparently used a secret code to calm the children, as she does on occasions – she simply says ‘let’s take a break’. But as a former staffer explained, the children know these few words carry far more weight than we might imagine.”

It’s also said the family live by a set of household rules at their home Adelaide Cottage in Windsor – including one that must be adhered to at all times. And according to a source, this rule is one they are strict on following – there is to be no shouting in the house. An insider told the Sun: “Shouting is absolutely ‘off limits’ for the children and any hint of shouting at each other is dealt with by removal.”

But rather than be sent off to their bedrooms or to the naughty step when they act up, the royal couple have a different technique – the sofa chat. The source added: “The naughty child is taken away from the scene of the row or disruption and talked to calmly by either Kate or William. Things are explained and consequences outlined and they never shout at them.”