'Prince George is still a young boy and we mustn't forget that, even with his destiny as future King'
By Natalie Oliveri|
OPINION – – Prince George of Wales was apparently told about his destiny as England's future King just three years ago.
George – who will celebrate his 10th birthday on Saturday – was seven at the time of the conversation.
Given he would have had inklings about the bizarre path that lay ahead much earlier than that, it's hard to imagine his parents not telling their eldest son sooner.
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Some might argue that conversation should have taken place when he was younger to better prepare him for schoolyard taunts, for example.
But the Prince and Princess of Wales have been doing all they can to make Prince George experience a normal life as possible ever since he was born inside London's St Mary's Hospital on July 22, 2013.
Then known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Catherine introduced their newborn son, and heir to the throne, to the world just one day later.
In the decade that has past since that iconic moment outside the hospital's famous Lindo Wing, Prince George has been gradually educated about his future within the monarchy.
Just two months ago, Prince George took on his most prominent role yet as a page boy during the coronation of his grandfather King Charles III.
It was George's debut on the world stage of sorts as he was required to take a key part in the historic ceremony which was broadcast around the world, the first coronation to take place in Britain in 70 years.
His parents were said to have had doubts about putting their son into such a highly visible position, giving the pressure he would face carrying the King's heavy robes into Westminster Abbey with the world's media focused on him.
But the nine-year-old performed the job perfectly, a moment for the history books.
The page boy job was the latest in a slow roll out of royal duties for Prince George.
It's easy to forget George is so young given how grown up he appears at official events, and how formal he looks at most of them. There was such an uproar when he wore a suit and tie to his first Wimbledon match in 2022 on what was a warm day for London.
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The prince has been in front of the cameras for all of his life – most of us remember where we were when he was born – but he is still displaying a shyness that should remind everyone he really is just a young boy... one with a very big future ahead.
During a family visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo in Gloucestershire last week, Prince George was like a mini-Prince William: both dressed in belted chinos and brown suede brogues.
But George, understandably for his age, lacks the confidence his father now has in droves.
During his teenage years, Prince William was often known as the shy prince in comparison to his boisterous younger brother Prince Harry.
When it came to farewelling the senior members of the RAF, Prince George appeared less engaged than his younger sister Princess Charlotte who enthusiastically shook hands with those presented before her.
While Prince George is undoubtedly showing a newfound maturity and confidence, he still appears uncomfortable when put on show.
It must be very strange for George, and other royal children, to be known to millions around the world.
The royal children are carefully guarded from the public as much as possible, with most of their engagements held away from large crowds.
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The coronation and the funeral of the late Queen being the two biggest exceptions of course.
I was at five-year-old Prince Louis' first, official, royal engagement on May 8 – two days after the coronation – and it was held at the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, just outside of London.
Prince William and Kate, and their three children, were there to help repair the aging scouts hall and take part in some of the activities, including archery, as well.
Seeing Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in person made me realise just how young they really are.
It is hard to forget the trio are still very much children, as silly as that sounds.
As they interacted with the other youngsters, I heard Prince William call out to his eldest son as simply "George", which of course he would do.
In that moment, I had to remind myself that that little boy standing metres from me was Prince George, and future King, to everyone else except his immediate family.
It was an odd realisation knowing that one day this young prince will become King of England and the UK, and the Commonwealth.
It must be a heavy burden for George to carry, knowing what lay ahead especially seeing the change that has recently taken place following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Surely George must understand that his father will be next on the throne and after that, it's his turn.
What a strange thing to have ahead.
In his book Battle of Brothers, royal historian Robert Lacey said Prince William told his son about the title that awaits him "sometime around his seventh birthday".
William previously wanted to hold off on discussing the "life of future royal service and duty" to give George a "normal family upbringing", with he and Kate wanting to approach the subject at a "controlled moment of their choice".
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Part of their reasoning was to help the monarchy "to stay relevant and keep up with modern times".
Lacey wrote: "William has not revealed to the world how and when he broke the big news to his son. Maybe one day George will tell us the story himself."
In 2016, Prince William told the BBC about the revelation: "There'll be a time and place.
"Right now, it's just a case of keeping a secure, stable environment around him and showing as much love as I can."
If it did, indeed, happen when George was seven, he would have been at school well before then.
On September 7, 2017, Prince George was walked hand-in-hand through the gates of Thomas's Battersea for his first day of school.
While his classmates were reportedly told to treat the prince just like every other student, it's not hard to imagine some of his fellow classmates letting slip to him about being their future King.
Yet it was apparently three years later he was told about his destiny.
Regardless of how it all played out, the Prince and Princess of Wales should be applauded for how they are raising their children under such odd circumstances.
Well, odd to all of us, of course, but totally normal to them.
Especially Prince William who learned from the best: his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth.
They were said to have had regular catch-ups while William was a schoolboy, allowing the monarch to pass on her knowledge gradually.
One would assume Prince William is doing the same with his eldest son now, especially as that future role is getting all the more real.
Queen Elizabeth II had an historic 70-year-reign. Her son, King Charles III, won't have anything close to that, nor will Prince William.
There is much less time for such an education as William had from his grandmother.
But George is well on his way to becoming the King he is destined to become.
He just needs to be allowed to be a young boy for a while longer yet.
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