Whether it’s a popstar, astronaut, teacher, or truck driver, many kids know exactly what they want to be when they grow up… while others take a little longer to make that decision. Some kids, however, don’t get to make that decision at all. Like Prince George, the 12-year-old royal who will one day be King.
It’s a big job to have looming over you from, well, the second you’re born – so it’s no wonder that Prince William and Kate Middleton are trying to prepare their son, George, for his destiny. According to royal expert and historian Marlene Koenig, who spoke to Us Weekly, George is now “undoubtedly aware of his future role” but he didn’t have a “proper awareness” of this until the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Since Her Majesty’s passing, the Prince and Princess of Wales have, according to Koenig, spoken to George about the “changes” to come in his future. So, how exactly are they getting him ready for his role as King?
Everyone’s clicking on…How Prince William and Kate Middleton are prepping George to be King Attending key events
Although Prince George doesn’t attend every royal event, he does appear at the majority of the important ones – and for good reason. George’s attendance at key royal events is part of William and Kate’s plan to gradually expose him to his future life.
Take King Charles’ coronation, for example. “The Coronation provided the young prince with the knowledge that he, too, would one day be crowned in a Coronation ceremony,” Koenig told Us Weekly. “George may be a schoolboy who loves sports, but he is most certainly aware of his future.”
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Following royal protocol
As well as following the strict rules that William and Kate have set for their three children, George also has to abide by royal protocol due to his future role as monarch. One such protocol is that heirs to the throne cannot travel together, meaning William and George must take separate flights if they’re going on holiday as a family.
It’s all about protecting the future of the monarchy. If there was – God forbid – a plane crash resulting in the death of both George and William, that would mean the second and third in line to the throne would both have passed away. It’s because of this rule that other royals are also advised not to travel together on board a plane: King Charles and William are not permitted to travel together, and the then-Prince Charles was also restricted from travelling with his mother, the late Queen.
Learning by example
George spends a lot of time with his dad, William, and in doing so, he’s learning from example how to act like a future King. By tagging along with the Prince of Wales to, let’s say, a football match, George is observing duties and learning firsthand, while also being taught about how to serve and engage with members of the public.
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Getting stuck in
William and Kate have made no secret about their passion for charity work, which they are passing on to their son, George. Most recently, for example, George joined his father at a homelessness charity, where he was taught about homelessness and shown the efforts of organisations trying to tackle it.
During the visit, George helped to make lunch for people being supported by the charity, which works with homeless people in central London. “He’s very much like his dad,” Mick Clarke, chief executive of the Passage charity, said of George after his visit. “He just wanted to get stuck in and help.”
Meeting the public
A key element of George’s future as King is the public over which he will rule. Perhaps then, that’s why William and Kate are keen for him to spend as much time as possible interacting with members of the public.
Last summer, for example, George joined his parents at a tea party for veterans held at Buckingham Palace. During the visit, he spoke to plenty of veterans, listening intently and asking questions about their experiences. “George was the star of the room. He was engrossed in conversation with many of the veterans, who were delighted to speak to him as well,” a source told HELLO! of George’s behaviour.
“It was a safe, familiar place,” the insider added. “William and Kate were clearly trying to give him a good experience. They both appeared protective, putting an arm around him from time to time, but they looked very proud of him by the end.”
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Balancing duty with childhood
Being the future-King is a pretty (read: really) big deal, which is why William and Kate want to ensure George has somewhat of a normal childhood in preparation for such an important destiny.
“They’ve always been very clear about pacing it,” a royal expert told HELLO! of how the Prince and Princess of Wales are giving George a “slow, incremental move towards his destiny.”
“It’s about not making the children do anything that puts them off the idea of being royal in the future,” Robert Hardman, author of Charles III: New King, New Court, The Inside Story, continued. “It’s a case of including [George] in things that he’ll enjoy, but that also touch on his life to come.”
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Jade Biggs (she/her) is one of Cosmopolitan UK’s freelance writers, working across all sections including entertainment, beauty, body, and sex and relationships. She previously held the position of Features Writer, covering everything from breaking news and the latest royal gossip, to the health and fitness trends taking over your TikTok feed. Jade has a degree in journalism and has been a journalist and content editor for ten years, interviewing leading researchers, high-profile influencers, and industry experts in that time. She is a cat mom to four fur babies and is obsessed with Drag Race, bottomless brunches, and wearing clothes only suitable for Bratz dolls. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.