Tea Parties & Bedtime Stories: Princess Kate and Prince William's 'Dream' Country Life with George and Charlotte

The royal parents "don't have any plans other than to have a proper family life," a close friend tells PEOPLE

Miles of green fields, a kid-friendly home (mortgage-free!) and quiet time with their newborn and toddler: For Prince William and Princess Kate, country living is as close to bliss as can be.

As Kate, 33, and William, 32, settle into their first few weeks with 11-day-old Princess Charlotte and 21-month-old Prince George, they “don’t have any plans other than to have a proper family life,” a close friend tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story.

William’s job as an air-ambulance pilot gives him the chance to finish a shift and then head back home in time “to read [the kids] a story,” says the friend.

Related: Princess Kate’s Pregnancy Journey

Meanwhile, George has the run of the family’s 10-bedroom home, Anmer Hall – located in the countryside northeast of London – which was gifted to them by Queen Elizabeth.

“This part of Norfolk is very peaceful,” says Marie Therese Viney, who co-owns the nearby Church Farm Bed and Breakfast with her husband, Nigel. (The Queen is their landlord.) “It is the perfect place to raise a family.”

For William and Kate, the idyllic location allows them to “be mother and father in isolation a bit,” says the friend. “It’s a dream scenario for them.”

For much more on life with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday

And for more royal photos and all the details on Will and Kate’s growing family, pick up PEOPLE’s Princess Charlotte collector’s edition, in stores May 15. Or download the digital version at peoplespecials.com