It took several years for Prince George to find out that his “destiny” is to become the king of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, carrying on his shoulders the responsibility of leading an entire nation at such a young age.
On July 23rd, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton turned 12 years old, and his life has just taken a drastic turn, as the young royal would already be facing one of the most significant changes to prepare for his future reign, just as his father did at his age, starting to travel alone on his own jet and away from his family as part of the protocol to protect the British monarchy.
However, in a final act of love from his parents prior to this preparation for the crown he could wear in a few years, Prince George enjoyed an almost normal childhood.
How did Prince George find out he would become king?
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, protected their son for much of his childhood so that he could enjoy it without the burden or responsibilities of belonging to the British monarchy.
For example, when the family attended events, they did not reveal the ostentatious title that their great-grandmother Isabel carried, whom they called “Gan-Gan.” Instead, at official events like the Trooping the Colour, they would tell her she was a very special, popular, and beloved lady, and that’s why the whole family was there to applaud her on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
The intention of Prince William was to provide a different childhood for his children than the one he had, and this was reflected in his parenting style, with the main goal being that his heir to the throne would not be pretentious.
According to royal biographer Robert Lacey, William and Kate spoke with George when he turned 7 in 2020, and told him about his future in the royal succession. “It was a controlled moment and at the parents’ choice,” Lacey wrote. This, according to the specialist, “reflects William’s discontent with the way he experienced his royal destiny.”
What place does George occupy in the line of succession to the British throne?
Prince George of Wales is second in line to the throne of the United Kingdom, making him the direct heir once his father, Prince William, ascends to the throne. This position places him at the center of the future of the British monarchy, with a royal trajectory already defined since his birth.
Her grandfather, King Charles III, is the current monarch, and her father, Prince William, holds the title of Prince of Wales as the eldest son of the sovereign.
The succession continues with George’s younger siblings: Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who hold the third and fourth place, respectively. This order reflects the hereditary system established by the British crown, which gives priority to direct descendants. Therefore, despite being the second son of King Charles, Prince Harry is in fifth place in the succession, below his nephews.