Prince George's future destiny 'laid bare by William and Kate Middleton on landmark day'
With Prince George 's 12th birthday right around the corner, all eyes are on the young royal as he approaches his adolescence and becomes more of a focal point of the royal family. As the youngster continues to come into his own as a royal and appear more at royal engagements, many have long wondered how George was informed about his destiny as King.
From the moment he was born, all roads have led to him eventually ascending to the throne, which was no doubt confronting for a young boy. Thankfully, George has had his parents, Prince William and Princess Kate, to steer him in the right direction and show him the royal ropes as he steps out in the public eye more and more.
Royal commentator Robert Lacey speculated about the young royal's future in his book Battle of Brothers, as he has long been curious about howGeorge was informed of his extraordinary future role and how he reacted to being told he is an heir to the throne.
Lacey penned: "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. But sometime around the boy's seventh birthday in the summer of 2020 it is thought that his parents went into more detail about what the little prince's life of future royal 'service and duty' would particularly involve."
Robert further added that William and Kate wanted to have a conversation with George at a "controlled moment of their choice" when he turned seven.
This decision was reportedly linked to "William's unhappiness at the haphazard fashion in which the whole business of his royal destiny had buzzed around his head from the start," as the Prince of Wales endured the same fate as his oldest son as the first heir to the throne after his father King Charles.
To help with his preparation to eventually become King, even though his ascension to the throne is likely still decades away, George will begin receiving special lessons on everything from his official duties to the constitution and the importance of the Commonwealth.
While the headmaster at Lambrook School, where the Wales children all attend, stated that they give students 'feathers to fly so that when they leave us, they will spread their wings and take flight," George will also no doubt receive a more intense education on his future role as King when he begins secondary school in 2026.
Many royal commentators are expecting that George will follow in his father's footsteps and attend Eton College, while others believe that the young royal will be enrolled at Princess Kate's alma mater of Marlborough College.
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As for Windsor Castle, which was once earmarked for William and Catherine by the late Queen, the prospect of a full or even part-time royal resident after Charles also looks unlikely. But that is less concerning to many than the future of Buckingham Palace, the sovereign's official London residence, not least because £369 million of public funds is currently being invested in a top-to-toe refurbishment – including a complete redecoration of the late Queen's suite of rooms. At present, no members of the Royal Family reside at the Palace due to this mammoth ten-year re-servicing programme, which is required to bring the crumbling royal residence up to scratch. There is no doubt the works were overdue and badly needed. The Palace's pre-war electrics were verging on dangerous for such an historic building. But, without a king in situ – or even in proximity – will people really feel this is justified? One of the biggest attractions of Buckingham Palace, whether you are visiting it as a head of state, one of the 50,000 guests who attend garden parties, receptions and functions held there each year or even just as a paying punter in the summer months, is that it is the living, breathing heart of the institution. Will it have the same attraction as the nation's most-gilded museum when there is no monarch in residence? Palace aides have always carefully insisted that Charles 'intends' to take up residence in 'Monarchy HQ', as Buckingham Palace is dubbed. However, others think that is unlikely now he and the Queen are well established in the more private and homely surrounds of neighbouring Clarence House. It's worth noting that the building works are not due to be concluded until 2027, when King Charles will be 78 and William 45. A well-placed source tells me that William will be taking an even more 'pragmatic' approach to Buckingham Palace in the future, stressing that Forest Lodge will be his family's only 'long-term' home. To all intents and purposes, then, he will be the first monarch since medieval times not to live in a castle or a palace. Like his father, William is keen to open Buckingham Palace to a greater number of tourists each year than at present. This would generate funds for its future upkeep while lessening pressure on the public purse. The Prince of Wales also wants to see the amount of official entertaining that goes on at the Palace expanded, possibly even using it for government and charitable events. While Sandringham and Balmoral are very much private royal estates with no public funding, it seems that they, too, could undergo a subtle change of status, and be opened to visitors on more days than in the past. All of these are clearly sensible ideas. And yet concerns remain – particularly when it comes to Buckingham Palace. Those I have spoken to are choosing their words carefully, knowing how important it has been to William to ensure that family – rightly – comes first. As one insider says: 'The late Queen said she had to be seen to be believed. I just hope that the Prince of Wales can find the right balance between raising his family away from the public glare at Windsor with the presence required of him as a future, and eventual, head of state.'
