She’s never walked a red carpet. She’s never given an interview. And yet, she’s helped shape the childhood of the future of the monarchy. After 12 years of unwavering service, the long-time nanny to Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales has been formally honored by King Charles III in the New Year’s Honours list — and royal fans are stunned by just how rare and meaningful this recognition is. This isn’t a celebrity award. It’s not ceremonial fluff. It’s a deeply personal acknowledgment of loyalty, trust, and years spent quietly raising the Wales children away from the spotlight. For more than a decade, she’s been there for the early mornings, the school runs, the scraped knees, the private moments the world never sees. While the cameras focused on tiaras and tradition, she was providing stability, routine, and normalcy behind palace doors. Royal watchers are calling the honour extraordinary — not just because of who granted it, but because of what it represents: a rare glimpse into how much the royal family values the people who protect their children’s private lives. This is the kind of recognition that almost never makes headlines… Which is exactly why it matters
She’s never walked a red carpet. She’s never given an interview. And yet, she’s helped shape the childhood of the future of the monarchy. After 12 years of unwavering service, the long-time nanny to Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales has been formally honored by King Charles III in the New Year’s Honours list — and royal fans are stunned by just how rare and meaningful this recognition is. This isn’t a celebrity award. It’s not ceremonial fluff. It’s a deeply personal acknowledgment of loyalty, trust, and years spent quietly raising the Wales children away from the spotlight. For more than a decade, she’s been there for the early mornings, the school runs, the scraped knees, the private moments the world never sees. While the cameras focused on tiaras and tradition, she was providing stability, routine, and normalcy behind palace doors. Royal watchers are calling the honour extraordinary — not just because of who granted it, but because of what it represents: a rare glimpse into how much the royal family values the people who protect their children’s private lives. This is the kind of recognition that almost never makes headlines… Which is exactly why it matters
The Prince and Princess of Wales‘s nanny has been recognised in the New Year Honours list for 2026.
Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, who has played a pivotal role in the lives of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, will be given the silver Royal Victorian Medal.
The reward is for personal service to the Royal Family and is a gift from the Sovereign.
Ms Borrallo hails from Spain and was trained at the prestigious Norland College before starting work for Waleses in 2014.
She was hired to help William and Kate look after George when he was eight months old but she now cares for Charlotte and Louis too.
Ms Borrallo was seen wearing the distinctive brown and white Norland uniform while tending to the three children during Pippa Middleton‘s wedding in 2017.
More recently, she was spotted in the back of Prince William’s car as the Waleses headed back from a Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on December 16.
Ms Borrallo lived with the family at Kensington Palace but when they moved into Adelaide Cottage in Windsor’s Home Park she stopped being a live-in nanny.
However, she continued to care for the children while living at another property.
Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo is seen wearing the distinctive brown and white Norland uniform while tending to the children in 2015
Ms Borrallo lived with the family at Kensington Palace but when they moved into Adelaide Cottage in Windsor’s Home Park she stopped being a live-in nanny
Prince George is held up at a window of Buckingham Palace by his nanny to watch Trooping the Colour in 2015
The Prince and Princess of Wales now live at the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge, which they intend to be their ‘forever home’.
At the time Ms Borrallo was hired, Kensington Palace released a statement saying: ‘Maria is a full-time nanny, who started work with us recently, and will be accompanying the Duke and Duchess and Prince George to New Zealand and Australia.
It added: ‘We will not be giving further details on Maria or her employment, except to say that the Duke and Duchess are of course delighted she has chosen to join them.’
Maria was born in Madrid but grew up in Palencia in northern Spain.
She is said to have been nicknamed Santa – Spanish for saint – by those closest to her when she was a youngster.
Norland College where Ms Borrallo was trained has been producing nannies for the rich and famous since 1892.
Students are known for their distinctive uniforms and are schooled in all aspects of looking after youngsters during their three-year degree course.
The training costs £36,000 in total and the college added martial arts training and stunt driving to its curriculum to cater for modern clients – many of whom are celebrities and the super-rich.
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Ms Borrallo (in her Norland nanny uniform) talks to Queen Elizabeth II during the Christening of Princess Charlotte
Nannies are also trained in how to deal with paparazzi and are taken to Castle Combe Racing Circuit in Wiltshire to perfect their driving skills and learn how to drive at high speed in any weather condition.
Friends in Maria’s hometown have previously claimed she would have become a nun had she not ended up pursuing her passion for looking after children.
Her austere lifestyle made her the perfect candidate to become a servant of God, they said.
Ms Borrallo’s brother Luis did follow a religious pathway, having been ordained a deacon in 2011.
She attended church regularly with the rest of her family as she was growing up.
Ms Borrallo is among a string of top celebrities and community champions to receive gongs in the New Year’s Honours.
Idris Elba, 53, who has campaigned against knife crime, is to be knighted by the King.
The actor, whose Elba Hope Foundation supports youth advocacy, said he was accepting the honour on behalf of the ‘many young people’ at his charity who inspire his work.
Sir Idris said: ‘I hope we can do more to draw attention to the importance of sustained, practical support for young people and to the responsibility we all share to help them find an alternative to violence.’
King Charles III (left) with Idris Elba who has been made a Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honours list
Jayne Torvill, 68, and Christopher Dean, 67, are made a Dame and a Knight for services to ice skating and to voluntary service.
Jayne Torvill, 68, and Christopher Dean, 67, are made a Dame and a Knight for services to ice skating and to voluntary service.
The pair took home Olympic gold at the 1984 Winter Games before gaining household fame appearing on Dancing on Ice.
Sir Christopher, who faced an agonising wait as his letter came three days after that of his skating partner, said: ‘It’s such an amazing award to receive this and we’re really humbled by it.’
Dame Jayne said the timing felt ‘perfect’ as the pair completed their final ever tour earlier this year.
A year after former Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate was knighted, the Lionesses Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman, 56, was awarded with an honorary damehood.
Her squad featured heavily following their second Euros win in the summer with captain Leah Williamson, 28, made a CBE and teammates Alex Greenwood, 32, Keira Walsh, 28, Georgia Stanway, 26, and Ella Toone, also 26, made MBES.
Wiegman, who cannot receive a substantive damehood as she is not British, said: ‘I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this honour.
‘When I first arrived in England, I could never have imagined the respect and warmth I’ve experienced from the English people. I deeply thank the fans for their support.’
