Royal Experts Spot The 'First Signs' of Kingship in Prince George: 'He Seems to Have…'
Prince George is 12 and is already showing glimpses of the kind of king he will one day be. While for years, Prince William and Kate Middleton shielded their eldest from the pressures of royal life, George’s recent appearances have suggested a new phase is quietly underway. Earlier this year, George joined his parents and King Charles for a tea honoring World War II veterans on VE Day. Dressed in a dark suit and tie, he mingled with confidence, asking thoughtful questions of those he met.
“This was the first sign of George taking on future duties,” royal editor Russell Myers told PEOPLE. “Even though he is so young, he seems to have grown in confidence over the last couple of years.” That growth is anything but accidental. William and Middleton have long taken the 'slow and steady' approach, ensuring George is introduced to responsibility on their terms, rather than being dictated to by the institution. A Palace insider explained, “It’s a slow game, and it gets him used to it on the couple’s terms rather than anybody else’s.”
Those who know him well describe him as serious, sometimes reserved, but never without a playful streak. “He comes across as a serious chap,” said the insider. “To have the world’s eyes on you, especially when you’re so young, is demanding.” Yet his everyday life shows flashes of a typical pre-teen, cheering at soccer games with his dad, laughing with his younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and keeping a close circle of friends at school.
“He is the most normal 12-year-old future monarch we have ever had,” added the insider. “And that is a very good thing.” The Middleton family environment has also given George a steady foundation, something William himself didn’t always have. Unlike his father and grandfather before him, George has attended coed day schools alongside his siblings, much like the Middletons. The next major milestone will be his secondary education, with Eton College widely viewed as the likely choice. Its proximity to Windsor and William’s own positive experience there make it a natural fit.
Still, William and Middleton are cautious about timing when it comes to bestowing new responsibilities. With Charles still in treatment for cancer, questions about the monarchy’s future are inevitable, but the couple appear determined to let George enjoy as much of his youth as possible before heavy titles and duties come calling. “They would want him to focus on having freedom before giving him any royal titles,” a Palace source explained. Royal historian Robert Lacey added, “I imagine that when William talks to George about things like this, he uses words like ‘destiny’ rather than ‘duty.’ ‘Duty’ has a sense of being trapped; ‘destiny’ has a sense of choice.”
At the same time, both parents are also determined to leave no stone unturned in grooming him, but their approaches are very different. While William will focus on instilling the skills and knowledge needed for kingship, Middleton is guiding her son in a way only a mother can.