So the Kate-William nanny award made news back in March 2026, though not in the way you’d expect. William was the one who presented it- the Royal Victorian Medal- at Windsor Castle 24th March. What’s odd is nobody got to see it happen. No pictures, no clips, nothing handed to the media. And that wasn’t an accident.
- The Kate William nanny award went to Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo on 24 March 2026
- Prince William personally presented the medal during an investiture at Windsor Castle
- The citation read “for services to the Prince and Princess of Wales”
- She has worked for William and Kate since 2014, joining when Prince George was eight months old
- No images or video of her actual investiture moment were shared with the press
- She trained at Norland College in Bath, home of the famous “Norland nanny”
Who Is Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo?
Spanish-born, joined the Wales household back in 2014, and she’s been looking after George, Charlotte and Louis ever since. Trained at Norland College – the place famous for churning out nannies in that brown uniform who know self-defence right along with table manners. Which explains a lot about how the Kate and William nanny award ended up going to her. Mostly she stays out of sight. That’s the job. But she’s popped up here and there over the years – right there for Charlotte’s christening in 2015, standing near the late Queen, actually. Went on tours with the family too, New Zealand, Australia. Even caught in the background of a photo, sitting in the car with the kids on their way to Charles’s Christmas lunch this past December.
The Kate William Nanny Award: What Actually Happened
Technically it goes back to the New Year Honours list, end of 2025. But the ceremony itself? That didn’t happen till 24 March 2026. William presented it in person at Windsor Castle, one of several investitures that day. Other people got honoured too. Maria was the only one, though, whose moment never made it to the public.
The citation was simple: “for services to the Prince and Princess of Wales.” No grand statement, no press release beyond the fact of the award itself. That understatement fits how Maria has operated for over a decade in the role.
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What Is the Royal Victorian Medal?
It falls under the Royal Victorian Order, set up by Queen Victoria all the way back in 1896. The big difference between this and something like an MBE or a knighthood? Only the monarch decides. No committee, no ministers weighing in, none of that. Just the King, personally choosing to say thank you. Which is probably exactly why the Kate William nanny award took this form rather than some other honour – it’s meant for the people who serve the family directly, quietly, for years.
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| Honour | Who Decides | Typical Recipients |
| Royal Victorian Medal | The Monarch alone | Royal household staff, personal aides |
| MBE / OBE | Government-advised honours committee | Public figures, charity work, sport |
| Knighthood | Government-advised honours committee | High-profile public service |
Why Was There a Media Blackout?
This is the part that got people talking. At most investitures, honourees pose for photos as they receive their medal, and Windsor Castle usually allows a press pool to capture the moment. On 24 March, other recipients at the same ceremony, including a well-known TV writer and a tennis umpire, were photographed as normal.
Maria wasn’t. No images, no video, nothing of her actual moment with William was released to the media.
The reasoning seems to come down to something quite simple: protecting her privacy. Maria has spent over a decade deliberately staying out of the spotlight, and the Palace appears to have wanted that pattern to continue even on a day meant to celebrate her. She’s rarely photographed at all, mostly turning up in the background of big family occasions rather than being the focus.
It’s a small but telling detail about how the Wales family treats the people closest to their children. The honour was real and fully official, but the moment stayed private, on Maria’s terms rather than the media’s.
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A Rare Public Nod to a Very Private Job
Nannying for a future king’s children isn’t a job that comes with much recognition, at least not publicly. That’s part of what makes the Kate William nanny award stand out. According to People, Maria is known within royal circles for being firm when she needs to be, but warm and affectionate with the children day-to-day. This medal was the family’s way of formally saying thank you, even if they made sure the world didn’t get to watch it happen.
FAQs
Q. Who is Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo?
A. She is the Spanish-born nanny who has cared for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis since 2014.
Q. What was the Kate William nanny award?
A. The Royal Victorian Medal in Silver, presented by Prince William at Windsor Castle on 24 March 2026, for services to the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Q. Why weren’t there any photos of her ceremony?
A. The Palace chose not to release images or footage of her investiture moment, widely understood to be a decision made to protect her privacy.
Q. What is the Royal Victorian Medal?
A. It’s a personal honour from the monarch, founded in 1896, given for loyal service to the royal family. The King decides recipients directly, without government input.
Q. Where did Maria train as a nanny?
A. At Norland College in Bath, a well-known institution for training professional nannies.
Sources
- Hello! Magazine: William and Kate’s nanny to receive surprise honour
- People: Nanny Quietly Receives a Special Royal Honour
- GB News: William and Catherine’s nanny discreetly receives royal honour
- Cosmopolitan: Inside Kate’s Secret Decision to Grant a Rare Royal Honour
