NEED TO KNOW
- Prince George, 12, is slowly stepping into royal life
- Kate Middleton and Prince William are determined to give their eldest a “normal” childhood, even as he learns to balance destiny with everyday boyhood
- With King Charles still undergoing treatment, George’s future role looms larger — but insiders say William wants him to embrace it as “destiny,” not “duty”
On May 5, Prince George stepped into the spotlight like never before, joining his parents, Kate Middleton and Prince William, at Buckingham Palace alongside King Charles for a tea honoring WWII veterans. Sharp in a dark suit and blue tie, he asked thoughtful questions, giving a glimpse of the confident, calm young leader he’s becoming.
“This was the first sign of George taking on future duties,” Russell Myers of The Mirror tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “Even though he is so young, he seems to have grown in confidence over the last couple of years.”
For observers, the moment highlighted how William and Kate, both 43, have been carefully preparing their eldest son for the throne.
“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 says.
Prince George speaks with WWII veterans at Buckingham Palace on May 5, 2025.
Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty
Now on the cusp of his teens, George is being gradually introduced to the role he will one day inherit. He turned 12 on July 22, celebrated with a portrait — resembling his father in a country shirt and vest, with a Taylor Swift–style friendship bracelet — and a rare video with his siblings, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
While his younger brother and sister often shine with lively charm, George tends to project a thoughtful calm.
“He comes across as a serious chap,” the insider adds. “To have the world’s eyes on you, especially when you’re so young, is demanding.” Yet those who know him well say he also has a playful streak.
He enjoys front-row seats at Wimbledon and nearly a decade of balcony waves at Buckingham Palace, yet he’s also a big brother and a schoolboy with a close circle of friends at his coed school. Away from the spotlight, he leaps to his feet at soccer matches, cheering with his dad.
“He does the right things at the right moment, as any 12-year-old would—and that’s all that matters,” says a source close to the palace.
Following a summer in which his mother has been regaining strength nearly a year after chemotherapy, George is returning to Lambrook School in September for his final year alongside Charlotte and Louis. Unlike previous heirs, he has always attended coed day schools.
“That chimes with William wanting to do things in a more modern way, putting all three children in the same school,” says royal author Sally Bedell Smith. “It’s a new direction — groundbreaking for the royal family.”
But a pivotal decision lies ahead: where he will continue his education next year. For most royal watchers, Eton College — the all-boys boarding school where William thrived — is the front-runner, conveniently close to the family’s new home, Forest Lodge, in Windsor Great Park, where they plan to settle by year’s end.
William and Kate have anchored themselves in Windsor, determined to give their children as normal a life as possible. At Forest Lodge, they plan to maintain the routines that matter most: school drop-offs and pickups, sports games and everyday family moments — all without live-in staff.
Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in June 2025.
The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram
George’s home life mirrors the happy country-centered childhood Kate enjoyed. Living just 30 minutes away, Kate’s hands-on parents, Carole and Michael, play an unusually prominent role in shaping the life of a future King.
“Kate’s family has set the pace, and William has been very happy to take the lead from them,” says royal author Robert Lacey. “Many decisions they’ve made echo Middleton decisions.”
The couple has also succeeded in giving their children a childhood largely away from the cameras.
“William takes his role as father of the future King as seriously as he takes his role as future King. That’s key,” says royal biographer Robert Hardman. “His overarching priority is making sure they enjoy it rather than fear it.”
Prince William and Prince George on July 13, 2025.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
With King Charles, 76, still undergoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer, questions about the future are inevitable. If George becomes heir to the throne before finishing school, any bestowal of the title Prince of Wales may be delayed by William.
“They would want him to focus on having freedom before giving him any royal titles,” the insider says.
Adds Lacey: “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.”
Prince George and Prince Louis on June 14, 2025.
Neil Mockford/Getty
Indeed, times have changed. Charles was called “Sir” at school, while William went by his first name—and George is following suit.
“It’s evolution, rightly so,” notes the close insider.
It reflects the modern vision William is defining for his son. Unlike his own childhood — shaped by his parents’ tumultuous divorce and relentless photocalls, even on family vacations — and far from the royal upbringing Charles experienced, William and Kate have carved a different, more protected path for George.
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For now, the young prince will be focused solely on the carefree rhythms of childhood — thanks to his parents.
“He is the most normal 12-year-old future monarch we have ever had,” says the close palace insider. “And that is a very good thing.”