William and Kate to Hide Away Prince George: Public Hopes to See Future King on Engagement Circle Will Have to Wait 'Over a Decade'

Royal fans hoping to see Prince George on royal duties will likely have to wait "for over a decade."

This has led royal author Robert Hardman to share: "William is trying to normalize it [George's future]. They're not in denial, and there’s a lot of thought being given to it, which was not always the case."

"With George, there's a sense that the priority is that he and his siblings are not put off this, that it's not scary, that it's something that they understand and it’s going to be part of their life," he added. "And there’s a belief to make it as unobtrusive and as normal — if you can call it normal — and as pleasant as possible. Crucially, it's both of them — William and Catherine."

Hardman also quoted a royal source who told him: "There is no expectation that any royal duties are going to kick in until George is well into his 20s."

The news comes as Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, are currently trying to decide where to send Prince George to school after his prep school, Lambrook, runs its course. The future king and queen are said to be going back and forth between Eton College — William's alma mater — and Marlborough College, which is where Kate graduated from. However, the king and queen-in-waiting are reportedly also considering another option.

But in the midst of their decision on his schooling, George's parents are also carefully balancing his public profile.

"Before he was even made a page at the Coronation, William and Catherine wanted to ask him if he felt comfortable about it because he was clearly the youngest. It turned out he was keen," Hardman continued. "I think it's very much parents first. If he was asked to, he'd be delighted, but I think this is very much parent-driven."

"I suspect the time will come rather like that rather sweet rapport between the late Queen and Prince William, but I suspect not yet," Hardman concluded. "We know they are a very tight family unit, and he wants to be there for them. So much of what they do with those kids is about normalizing life and not making them feel like they are in a special gilded cage. They are a modern royal couple. There would have been more delegation [in the past]. He doesn’t want to leave it all to the nanny."

"A lot has happened in the last 18 months for the royal family, and they can't possibly protect him from all of it; there have been huge events; the Queen has died, and that has pushed William and Kate up a gear, up a rank, and by definition, George as well," royal author Tessa Dunlop observed last July.

GBN reported on Hardman's comments.