King Charles Personally Honours Prince William and Princess Catherine’s Beloved Nanny with Prestigious Medal

In a touching gesture that underscores the value placed on loyal service within the royal household, King Charles III has personally awarded Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, the longtime nanny to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver) as part of his 2026 New Year Honours list, announced on December 29, 2025.

The Royal Victorian Medal, part of the Royal Victorian Order established by Queen Victoria in 1896, is bestowed directly by the sovereign as a personal token of gratitude for distinguished service to the monarch or members of the royal family. Unlike most honours, it requires no ministerial advice—making it a rare and intimate recognition from the King himself.

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Maria, a Spanish-born graduate of the elite Norland College in Bath, joined the Prince and Princess of Wales’s household in 2014 when Prince George was just eight months old. Over the past 12 years, she has become an indispensable figure in the lives of the three young royals—now aged 12, 10, and 7—providing steadfast care amid house moves, overseas tours, and the family’s increasing public duties.

Initially a live-in nanny at Kensington Palace and later Anmer Hall, Maria adapted when the Waleses relocated to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor in 2022, continuing her full-time role from nearby accommodation. Following their recent move to the larger Forest Lodge on the Windsor estate in late 2025, she remains a constant presence, ensuring continuity for the children.

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Trained in everything from childcare fundamentals to self-defense and evasive driving, Norland nannies like Maria are renowned for their disciplined yet nurturing approach. She has been credited with instilling politeness, resilience, and routines in the children—encouraging outdoor play in all weather and even introducing Spanish language elements.

While Maria maintains a deliberately low profile, she has been glimpsed at pivotal moments: pushing prams at christenings, holding toddler George up to view the Trooping the Colour flypast in 2015 (chatting with Queen Elizabeth II), supervising at family weddings, and traveling with the Waleses to events like the pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace in December 2025.

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This honour is not solitary within the Wales household. Lance Sergeant Scott Robin Bishop, their driver, also received the silver Royal Victorian Medal, highlighting appreciation for dedicated support staff. The list similarly recognised members of King Charles’s medical team during his treatment.

Royal watchers have warmly welcomed the award, viewing it as well-deserved acknowledgment of Maria’s quiet influence on the next generation. In a modern monarchy emphasising family and continuity, her role—balancing privacy with professionalism—has been pivotal.

As the Wales children grow, with Prince George approaching secondary school and more public engagements, Maria’s steady guidance remains invaluable. This personal honour from the King celebrates not just service, but the human bonds that sustain royal life.

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