Prince William Reveals What George Is Really Like 'Behind Closed Doors': ‘It’s a Different Ball Game’
The Wales children may appear polished and perfectly poised in public, but according to their father, Prince William, things are a little less formal 'behind closed doors.' During a recent royal engagement, William offered rare glimpses into their personalities, admitting that Prince George, often seen as the most reserved of his three children, isn’t as serious as he looks.
With the summer holidays over, George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis returned to school last week, just as William and Kate Middleton resumed a busy round of royal duties. In the course of the conversation, at the National Federation of Women's Institutes (WI) in Sunningdale, attention soon turned to George, who at twelve is increasingly stepping into the spotlight as second-in-line to the throne. Known for his composed demeanor at official events, George is often described as the most serious of the Wales siblings. But William revealed there’s another side to him. “When George is behind closed doors, it’s a completely different ball game,” he revealed. He went on to explain that George "just knows how to behave" in public as opposed to young Louis. "There are five years between them," he pointed out.
George continues to generate the most public interest, both as a growing child and as the future king. Earlier this year, he joined his parents and King Charles for tea with World War II veterans on VE Day, dressed smartly in a dark suit and tie. According to royal editor Russell Myers, it was the first sign of George taking on future duties, with his confidence growing steadily over the past couple of years. “Even though he is so young, he seems to have grown in confidence,” Myers told PEOPLE, noting how carefully William and Middleton have managed their son’s gradual introduction to royal responsibility.
That strategy, insiders say, is deliberate. “It’s a slow game, and it gets him used to it on the couple’s terms rather than anybody else’s,” a Palace insider explained. Body language expert Arthur Cassidy, meanwhile, praised the young Prince’s posture, describing how he held his head high with his chest open. “Prince George reveals the positive impact of good posture; his head is held high with an open chest, while his personality type serves to positively reinforce just how vital his childhood and teenage development will be for his future role as monarch,” Cassidy had told HELLO! earlier.
Coming back to the recent event, when asked if Louis was “a bit of a handful,” William laughed and replied, “He’s a character, but he’s a very good boy.” The Prince described his youngest as playful and full of energy, noting that Louis especially enjoys running circles around his older sister Charlotte. The following day, during a visit to youth empowerment charity Spiral Skills in London, William revealed a little more about his youngest. Invited to join a musical activity, he quipped, “If my youngest were here, he’d have a go. He’s practicing at the moment.” Though he did not elaborate on which instrument Louis is learning, he is known to have a fondness for drums.