He’s just about to turn 10 – a milestone for any child. But for Prince George, reaching double figures could be about to signal an era of extra responsibility ahead that will eventually lead to him being a full-time working royal.
His grandfather, the King, is very impressed with the way young George has handled being in the public eye, particularly his impeccable behaviour when he acted as a page of honour at the coronation, and believes he’s capable of taking on more public tasks.
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A palace insider says given Charles sees Prince William and his children as the future of the “slimmed down” monarchy he’s keen to achieve, George’s ability to appropriately represent the family is crucial and he’s got off to a great start.
But while his parents want to support the King, they also want to make sure George has as normal a childhood as possible, despite the fact he will one day be sovereign. And that means balancing public duties with private life.
“The Princess of Wales is apparently happy for George to take on some extra roles at the request of the King, but she wants to be consulted to make sure she is happy with what is being asked of her son,” says the insider. “To her, the King’s word is not final when it comes to her children.”
Prince William – who knows only too well what it’s like to grow up with the responsibility of being an important part of the royal family hanging over him – has repeatedly spoken about how he and Kate are determined George and his siblings, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, will have a normal upbringing.
“As far as we are concerned within our family unit, we are a normal family,” he said when the children were smaller. “There’ll be a time and a place for George to understand how he fits into the world. But now it’s a case of keeping a secure, stable environment around them and showing as much love as I can as a father.”
Kate and Wills like to do normal things with the kids.
The King, too, is keen for his grandkids to experience “normal life” and he wants them to be “fully rounded human beings who are unafraid of their emotions”, according to historian Professor Chandrika Kaul.
But having seen how well George is dealing with being in the public eye, he may suggest ways his oldest grandchild can become more involved.
Kate and William have been very careful about introducing their children to public life. George has been in the spotlight since he was born, appearing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for the first time at just 11 months. But as they’ve got older, their parents have been “drip-feeding” them to the public, says royal writer Duncan Larcombe, and only allowing them to attend events when they feel they are ready.
One of the ways they’ve been getting George in particular accustomed to being the focus of attention is by taking him to sporting events.
“Attendance at sports matches is one of the most relaxed ways of easing the children into public life,” says royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. “They know they are being watched, but because it is an event they and everyone else is enjoying, there is not so much pressure.”
George most recently attended the Ashes cricket series with his dad, while Charlotte put in an appearance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
They know they are on display, says Duncan, but they are encouraged to celebrate and hug their parents and to even shed a tear, if their team loses.
“It shows the royal family’s human side and that is important too,” he adds.
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Fun facts about Prince George
A keen horse rider since having lessons during lockdown in 2020, he has his own pony.
George started playing tennis at five and has had tips from family friend Roger Federer.
When he was younger, George was a huge fan of the TV show Fireman Sam. When the makers found out, they wrote an episode featuring a young prince.
He’s inherited a passion for wildlife from his dad, and even did a bake sale to raise money to help endangered animals.
George made GQ magazine’s list of Britain’s 10 Best-dressed Men when he was just two years old.
Another passion is planes – he loves the flypasts over Buckingham Palace on special occasions.
He’s a keen cook who knows how to make pizza, pasta and cheese sauce.
He plays football at school and like his dad, supports football team Aston Villa.
Among his most prized possessions is a rocking horse he was given by former US president Barack Obama.
He’s learning the value of work, volunteering to do chores around the house to earn extra time on devices.
