William Knows There’s a Crucial Thing George Must Do Before 18 to Secure the Monarchy’s Future
Prince George is just twelve, but the weight of his future is already clear to those around him. His father, Prince William, knows very well what it means to grow up as the heir apparent. But there's one thing he didn't have to worry about until much later — being the Prince of Wales — a fate that will likely come sooner to George. With King Charles facing health struggles, William has been forced to look ahead and prepare his son, who's second in line for the throne, for the responsibilities that lie ahead.
William reportedly wants to take a balanced path forward as the Crown has "never felt closer...than it does now," royal author Katie Nicholl pointed out while speaking to The Mirror. She explained that while, on one hand, William wants George to have as normal a childhood as possible, he also knows that the young Prince needs to be in the spotlight. "William has the sense to know that the public needs to fall in love with George as a youngster," Nicholl noted. She argued that this means George needs to have a presence, and that "he can’t be kept under lock and key and only introduced when he’s 18."
Given that being King one day is his destiny, William and Kate Middleton have started including George in their public engagements. This May, for instance, he met World War II veterans at a VE Day Tea without his siblings. He stood beside his parents, and while it was a small step, it held great significance. As Nicholl stressed, "William doesn’t want George to have the same level of exposure he and Prince Harry had as kids, so it has to be done very carefully."
Understandably, George, too, is becoming aware of his future role. Speaking to PEOPLE, historian Robert Lace claimed that William and Kate Middleton "deliberately delayed this news until the last possible minute," so that he could have a normal childhood. "It shows special care and thoughtfulness. It also tells us something about how William felt about the weight of the Crown," Lacey noted. Reportedly, George was not told about his future role as King until he was 'around seven.' Even in William's case, royal biographer Andrew Morton detailed in his book William and Catherine: Their Lives, Their Wedding, that the Prince of Wales "genuinely had no idea that he was any different from anyone else" until he started school.
Williams' own challenges make the matter more urgent. While speaking to actor Eugene Levy on Apple TV+'s The Reluctant Traveler, he admitted, “I’d say ‘23-’24 was the hardest year I’ve ever had," as both his wife and father had cancer diagnoses. Yet, the aides "who know him best say he is absolutely prepared." Royal expert Duncan Larcombe also chimed in, claiming William and his eldest's "closeness will be invaluable as George tries to process the fact he isn’t quite normal. He’s going to be King; he will be front page news all his life."