Charlotte and Louis 'Spare' Fears: Prince William and Princess Kate 'Acutely Aware' of Difficulties Prince George's Siblings Face
Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales are said to be 'acutely aware' of the 'spare' difficulties Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte face.
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are Prince George's "spares," but thanks to their parents, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, neither have to dedicate their lives to their brother's stardom.
"William and Kate must be acutely aware of the problems for a royal spare," royal expert Jennie Bond shared. "They have already shown that they have a different and modern attitude to bringing up royal children and I'm sure they will do everything to make Charlotte and Louis feel every bit as special, loved and valued as George."
"I imagine they will encourage Louis to explore life outside the royal fold... it could be the military, but it could also be working in the charity world or whatever he finds appealing after his education is finished," she added. "I'm sure they will encourage him to go to University, which they both enjoyed and where, of course, they found love."
Bond continued: "And from there they will want him to find a life that is meaningful to him as well as appropriate for the son of a future King. They will try to ensure that he feels he is living a life of value, irrespective of his place in the line of succession and that will probably involve service of some kind as they have emphasized from the start that they want their children to understand that having empathy with others is not only a kindness, but is rewarding as well."
This is reportedly part of a ploy to ensure that second-in-line to the British throne Prince George's siblings do not become disgraced like Prince Harry and Prince Andrew.
Harry was the "spare" to Prince William's heir, and Andrew was the then-Prince Charles's spare until the arrival of William in 1982. The so-called "spare syndrome" has long been an issue in the British monarchy, dating back to the medieval period, but its most recent occurrences started with Andrew and Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II's spare, before him.
But William and Kate, Princess of Wales, are determined to break this dysfunctional pattern with their children.
Bond observed: "Hopefully the three of them will remain close for the rest of their lives. I’m sure William feels that even more strongly now that his own relationship with his brother has broken down. They are in a unique position as future monarch and senior members of the royal family."
However, if the Princess of Wales has her way, her youngest children will reportedly be free to enter the career world if they so choose. There will be no firm expectation that each will have to dedicate their lives to royal engagements and duties in a supporting role.
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Daily Mirror reported on Bond's remarks.
