Prince George is relying on two members of the Royal Family for advice and guidance that few others can provide, a royal expert has claimed. The future king, who celebrated his 13th birthday on Wednesday, is set to attend Eton this summer as he enters his formative years.
A protected upbringing
His parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, have taken steps to shield their eldest son from public scrutiny, though they recognise that as he steps into young adulthood, the reality of his future role as monarch cannot be kept at bay forever. To manage this balance, William and Kate have crafted a "protected zone" around their son, limiting his public appearances while guarding his daily privacy.
The Tindall influence
Royal author Robert Jobson believes the role of Zara Tindall and her husband Mike should not be underestimated. Their humility and laid-back approach to royal life are an asset to the development of a future monarch, he says.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Jobson said: "Watch Zara with George, and there is no deference in it. She teases him. He is easy with her the way children are easy with adults who want nothing from them."
He added: "Then there is Mike, who is not a godparent and has become something better. He talks to him about losing, the one subject nobody else raises, because everybody else is invested in the boy winning."
Jobson noted that Mike puts an "arm round George's shoulders" and there are "no airs and graces about the man". George "worked that out years ago", he said.
A different royal upbringing
Zara Tindall's mother Princess Anne turned down royal titles for her children, meaning Zara did not grow up as a princess like many of her cousins. Jobson believes this decision shaped Zara's upbringing, driving her to become an Olympian—she won a silver medal in team eventing at the 2012 London Games.
Her sporting pedigree, combined with that of her Rugby World Cup-winning husband, provides the future monarch with an outlet to learn about success and failure, Jobson thinks.
