Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo has long been one of the most trusted figures in the Prince and Princess of Wales's household in Windsor. Her years of service were recently recognized by King Charles with the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver), a sign of how highly she is valued within the royal family. But beyond the honor, one detail stands out in her work with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis: a firm focus on language. The Spanish-born nanny has made daily Spanish practice part of the children's routine from an early age.
Maria Borrallo Makes Spanish a Daily Priority
According to Hello!, Maria has treated learning a second language as a non-negotiable part of the Wales children's upbringing. The approach fits neatly with the family's wider interest in languages. Prince William is said to speak several languages, including French, Welsh and Spanish, while Catherine has some grounding in French and Italian. For the children, regular Spanish practice is more than an academic exercise. It builds confidence, discipline and familiarity with communication beyond English, all within the structure of ordinary family life at home.
Princess Charlotte Started Young With Spanish
The results appeared early. By the time Charlotte started nursery in 2018, she could already count in Spanish, and George had also picked up the skill. Danielle Stacey said according to Hello!: "Given the fact that George, Charlotte, and Louis will probably carry out full-time royal duties in future and will meet people from all over the world, it's no wonder that the Princess of Wales wants her children to be confident linguists." The rule also reflects Catherine's own time in Chile during her gap year, where she likely gained some exposure to Spanish.
Bilingual Skills Could Help George, Charlotte and Louis
The benefits go beyond future overseas tours. Research cited in the source points to broader advantages for children who grow up with more than one language. The Centre for Educational Neuroscience has noted that bilingual children can show stronger executive control, the kind of thinking that helps with switching between tasks and managing attention. For George, Charlotte and Louis, that could support both school life and later public duties. In a family shaped by global travel and formal engagements, language learning carries practical value from childhood onward.
Norland Training Shapes Maria's Role at Windsor
Maria's work has also changed as the children have grown older and settled into school life. She does not live with the family at Forest Lodge, but her schedule remains full. As reported by Hello!, Norland-trained nanny Louenna Hood explained the demands of the role: "With children at school during the day, you are required to organise school pick-ups and plan logistics of the different pick-up times due to after-school sports and clubs." That means breakfast routines, uniforms, homework support and being a steady presence through busy days.
