With a future as King of the United Kingdom already mapped out, Prince George is experiencing a childhood carefully curated by his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales. As the young royal approaches a significant milestone—starting secondary school later this year—his preparation for a life of duty is intensifying, yet William and Kate remain fiercely committed to providing a stable and grounded upbringing.
A Future 'Set in Concrete' with a Different Royal Approach
According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, the Waleses are navigating parenthood in a markedly different way to the late Princess Diana. While Diana famously expressed concern about the immense pressure on her own son, William, as the future monarch, Jennie suggests the current heirs have a more secure foundation. "It’s probably slightly easier for Catherine and William, in the secure and happy marriage they have, to prepare George for what lies ahead," Bond told the Mirror.
The royal expert highlighted the unique challenge facing William and Kate: they must prepare their eldest son for an inevitable destiny where personal choice is severely limited. "You can’t sit down and talk about what he might like to do as a career or whether he might, for example, one day like to live in another country," Bond explained. Prince George’s options are extremely limited and the eventual road ahead is set in concrete, she stated, explicitly noting that following his uncle Prince Harry's path by stepping back from royal life is not an option for the future King.
Balancing Normalcy with the Spotlight
Despite the weight of expectation, Princess Kate is credited with masterfully maintaining an ordinary family life for as long as possible. "I think Catherine is doing a fantastic job in keeping her children’s lives as normal as possible for as long as she can," Jennie Bond remarked. This includes protecting their privacy while gradually introducing them to public duties.
This careful balancing act appears to be paying off. The young Wales children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—are being slowly acclimatised to their royal roles. They have already begun joining their parents on more royal engagements as part of a long-term plan to prepare George for the throne. Bond observed that the children seem to be adapting well, noting they "looked particularly at ease at Sandringham on Christmas Day."
The Invaluable Foundation of a Stable Childhood
The core mission for William and Kate is to equip their children, especially the future King, with the resilience and perspective needed for a lifetime of service. Drawing from his own experience, Prince William is uniquely positioned to understand the pressures his son will face. The couple's strategy focuses on providing a happy, secure, and private family environment during the children's formative years.
Jennie Bond emphasised the value of this approach: "And that is invaluable in their development. It’s a fine balance, but I think she and William have succeeded in giving all three children a very good measure of privacy whilst satisfying the media and public demands for them to be seen in public." As Prince George steps closer to his destiny, the foundation built by his parents' 'different' and deliberate parenting style aims to ensure he is both prepared for the crown and grounded as an individual.
