Prince William Prepares George to Take Over a ‘Massive Responsibility’ as Heir to the Throne

Prince George, as the eldest child of Prince William and Kate Middleton, will become heir apparent when his father ascends the throne. The Prince of Wales has reportedly already begun preparing his son for the duties and responsibilities that would come with his future role. Among them is the stewardship of the Duchy of Cornwall — an estate William is deeply committed to as the current Duke of Cornwall.

William is known to frequently conduct private visits to the estate to oversee the implementation of his initiatives. According to the Daily Express, it is believed that once William takes the throne, the estate will be handed to George and will be in good hands. After he becomes King, George would become the Prince of Wales and subsequently, the Duke of Cornwall. Elaborating on his plans for the estate, William told the Telegraph, “I see the Duchy as an extension of the work we do with the Royal Foundation…I see [the duchy] as another arm to the work that I want to do, which is being a positive force for good.”

William spends his family holidays with Middleton, George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis at the Isles of Scilly. When there, the Prince of Wales gets into the habit of quizzing residents about what would improve their lives, something George would also be expected to do as King. The Telegraph reports that George will inherit the Duchy one day, with his father acting as guardian if he is under 18. William recently hinted at his son’s future responsibilities, and stressed, “I’m trying to make sure I’m prioritizing stuff that’s going to make people’s lives, living in those areas, better…It’s about responsibility, it’s about leadership, and doing what’s right on the social issues of our time.”

In addition to guiding him through the duties of the Duke of Cornwall, William, last month, also took the opportunity to prepare his son for his future role as monarch during the 80th anniversary of VE Day. As reported by Tatler, George learnt the ropes alongside his parents while chatting with WWII veterans at a Buckingham Palace tea party on May 5. At the party, photographers captured the young Prince listening attentively to the veterans and receiving big laurels for his smart questions and ear for detail.

Royal expert Emily Nash, reflecting on the Prince and Princess of Wales' approach to preparing their son, gushed on Hello!’s A Right Royal Podcast, “It's a big moment for him as second-in-line to the throne and one he will remember for many years to come. Both William and Catherine have spoken about their desire to teach their children about major moments…so this is another way for them to connect that wartime generation with their own next generation.” A source also told People magazine that it was a ‘massive balancing act’ for the couple to prepare George for his future role as monarch while also ensuring he has a normal childhood.