Peter Andre is tackling both ends of the parenting scale right now. He’s swapping between night shifts and nappy changes for his baby daughter Arabella, who he welcomed with wife Emily last month, and the challenges of raising two teenagers - dealing with their dating, social media usage and career aspirations.
And while Junior, 18, and Princess, 16, admit their house is a lot busier since they welcomed the newest little Andre, they’re loving watching their dad taking on fatherhood - although they admit they haven’t been overly helpful when it comes to new baby chores.
Speaking to OK! Magazine in their first joint interview, Princess says: “You get so used to peace and quiet – but now there’s a baby in the house, it’s always occupied and it’s always busy and buzzing. I love it.”
Junior adds: “It’s definitely hard for Dad and Emily, but we’re not the parents so we don’t have that responsibility on us. We do help out during the day, but we’ve got bedrooms at the top of the house, so we don’t hear the baby crying in the night. It’s so exciting. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not changing any nappies or anything. She’s growing so fast, she’s going to start mumbling words soon.”
But despite having five children to keep an eye on, Princess and Junior - who Peter shares with model Katie Price - explain that their dad has some strict rules they must follow.
Junior explains: “There are always going to be times, growing up, when children misbehave, and it’s important to discipline kids when they’re like that.
“Dad’s always been fair to me, and seeing the way he’s been, it sets me up for fatherhood – which I’m not wishing on myself any time soon, by the way! Especially after seeing the new baby in the house, it’s a lot.
“If we didn’t listen to him, we’d get in trouble, but if we listen and respect him, he’s cool. And I think we’ve proven to him that he can trust us.”
Princess adds: “When we were younger, he was more strict. As you get older and you have more freedom, it changes. He’s strict in the sense that he has house rules, but he’s fair.”
She explains that her younger siblings - who Peter shares with wife Emily - Millie and Theo have a strict bedtime of 8pm and their screen time is limited.
They are all banned from having phones in their bedrooms until they turn 14.
As youngsters, they weren’t allowed much chocolate or Coca Cola and were always made to do chores including emptying the dishwasher.
When asked about Peter’s old joke that he wanted Princess to become a nun, she tells us: “No, but it’s always been a joke that I’m the little girl and I can’t have a boyfriend. I think my dad used to feel funny about it, because I’m his first daughter, but as you grow older it’s actually cute. He was never serious about me being a nun!”
Junior adds: “As a dad, it’s natural to be protective over your daughters. It’ll happen to all the kids – Theo, Millie, Arabella, they have a while to go, but they’ll all go through it.”
Junior also reveals that dad Peter has started coming to him for advice now too. “I’m really good at sensing when a vibe is off, or the energy is wrong and so I’ll know if he’s not feeling good. He’ll ask me, ‘Son, what can I do about this?’ and I’ll give him my thoughts.”
Another area where both Junior and Princess are perhaps mature beyond their years is their attitude towards social media, and growing up in the public eye means they’re well aware of its downsides.
Junior - who has a career in music like his dad - explains: “Fortunately, and unfortunately, for what I do – music and performing, social media is important. But it can be very overwhelming. Just the sheer amount of content you have to put up, and everyone has an opinion. Sometimes it can feel very natural doing it and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Meanwhile Princess stresses she’s keen to show different sides of herself online. “For me, it’s important to show myself without make-up, with make-up, in all ways. I think it’s so important to be happy with yourself. In years to come you’ll look back and think, ‘Why did I not love that!?’”
But one career move they’re both keen to make at some point would be a trip into the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here jungle - which is where their parents famously met back in 2004.
“We’d love to do I’m A Celebrity… It’s where our parents met, so it’s why we’re here in the first place,” Junior says.
Princess adds: “We’d have to do it together, but that would be fun. I’d be terrified, but it would be so iconic.”
The pair have more than enough experience looking out for each other over the years, and Junior is the first to admit he’s very protective of her.
“I’m her big brother so, yeah, I am protective. Not overly protective, but I do look out for her,” he says.
But Princess isn’t sure, claiming he can be a bit too overprotective - but says she doesn’t mind as it’s “brother’s instinct”.
The siblings are growing closer as they grow up, and they now even go on double dates with the new partners.
Princess explains: “As we’ve got older, we’re closer than ever. We’re both more mature, too, so it’s easier to get along and understand each other. Before, we’d argue about silly things.”
Junior adds: “But it’s normal for siblings to fight. Now that we’ve grown up, we’re actually getting on more and more.”
On the subject of his new girlfriend - believed to be Jasmine Orr - Junior says: “Life is great. Things are going well. It’s nice when you build close relationships.
“If any of us bring someone home who is important to us, then the family is supportive. “People can have different opinions but at the end of the day, if I’m happy, my family is happy.”
Princess has kept things with her new boyfriend out of the spotlight, but tells us he makes her very happy: “It’s going really well. My parents like him, which makes me happy so all is good.”
Junior and Princess are also close with their half-siblings on their mum’s side - Harvey, Jett and Bunny.
Junior tells us: “They’re great. Harvey’s just turned 22, which is crazy! But he’s doing really well. I saw some frogs the other day so I sent him a video of them. He loves frogs.”
Princess adds: “Bunny and Millie are so similar in certain ways, but so different. They come to me for older sister advice now.
“Like, if something’s happened at school and they want to know what to do, they’ll come to
me. And that’s something I’ve always wanted. Harvey’s older but he doesn’t really know
how to have a proper conversation, but he’s so funny. And Jett and Theo are great. I think Junior gives them amazing advice. He’s really good at it.”
- Read the full chat in tomorrow's OK! magazine, out tomorrow.
