A former employee of the Royal Family has commented on Prince George, noting a striking change during the Trooping the Colour ceremony. The annual event, held over the weekend, was attended by senior royals, including the young prince's parents, Prince William and Princess Catherine.
Former Butler's Observations
Grant Harrold, who worked for the Royal Family between 2004 and 2011, shared his insights with Reach Plc. The former butler to King Charles III believes Prince George has undergone a transformation that reflects the efforts of his parents. Harrold suggested that George, approaching his 13th birthday, seemed to fully grasp the significance of his role.
He explained: “We saw a real change in Prince George at this year’s Trooping the Colour, it was like a new version of him. He’s just a few weeks away from his 13th birthday, and behind closed doors he’s also getting ready to make the transition to ‘big school’ - so a huge life change is just around the corner. At Saturday’s event George was far more like a young, teenage royal than a child. The change was strikingly clear.”
Harrold added: “While he looked happy as he laughed with his family, I got the feeling that he understood his duty and position this year. He understands that this isn’t just a fun day out to watch the flypast, but a high-profile event filled with important traditions.”
Protective Older Brother
Grant also noted George's protective nature toward his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. “You can tell he’s very protective of his younger siblings, which is lovely to see. That close bond is something they will need as they go through this unique life together,” he said.
Parents' Behind-the-Scenes Work
Harrold touched on the training that William and Catherine are providing for their son, preparing him for future roles such as Prince of Wales and King. “I think George’s appearance at Trooping the Colour is a real reflection of the work Prince William and Kate are doing behind the scenes. His training for his royal life is in full swing,” Grant explained.
He added: “I imagine they will be taking him to events - both publicly and privately - so he can shadow them. They will want him to see how they interact with people, and how they handle situations. They would have been doing this to an extent for years, as they will want it to be the norm, but as he gets older it will increase. However they want to do this while still protecting him as much as they can, and waiting until they believe he is ready - which is vital.”
Lip Reader's Insight
Meanwhile, a lip reader claimed to have spotted King Charles giving instructions to his younger grandchildren. Lip reader Jeremy Freeman told the Express that Princess Charlotte asked the King: “Time to wave?” He added that the King replied: “Very good. Now we give a wave. Wave to everyone. Cheerio. That's right, thank you very much.”
