How Kate Middleton is preparing Prince George to become King

Kate Middleton

, the Princess of Wales, is taking a thoughtful approach to preparing her eldest son,

Prince George

, for his future role as

King

. At just 11 years old, George is second in line to the

British throne

after his father,

Prince William

. While his ascent may be decades away, Kate is already laying the groundwork to ensure George is ready for the immense responsibilities that await him.

According to royal expert Phil Dampier, Kate and William are striking a careful balance in George's upbringing. "Most of the time he is enjoying the life of someone from the upper middle classes and spends a lot of time with Kate's family, the Middletons," Dampier told

The Sun

. "However, he is growing up fast and William and Kate are slowly preparing him for his role." A key part of this preparation involves gradually exposing George to

royal duties

and events. "He is attending royal events such as Trooping the Colour, the Coronation, and big set events, and he is slowly being introduced to those," Dampier noted.
Kate's approach differs significantly from the rigid upbringing of previous heirs like King Charles III. As Dampier explained, "King Charles has spoken in the past of the dreadful moment when as a child it finally dawned on him that he was going to be King and that his whole future was mapped out for him, and it came as a great shock." In contrast, Kate and William are taking a gentler tack. "One of the ways [how] William and Kate have prepared George for being King is NOT to prepare him," Dampier explained. "They were adamant that they wanted him, Charlotte, and Louis to have as normal an upbringing as possible and not to be burdened by his future destiny."

This emphasis on normality extends to George's education and social interactions. While he attends the prestigious Lambrook School, Middleton ensures he has opportunities to meet people from all walks of life. Dampier stated, "William has taken George to social events like football, and mum Kate has taken him to Wimbledon...as well as enjoying the sport, it’s good for him to meet people from all walks of life and gain confidence." Body language expert Judi James has observed the positive effects of this approach. "Thanks to William's careful, hands-on induction of his eldest son, George has slowly evolved from a rather shy-looking small boy into a more confident, responsible, and... joyful-looking eleven-year-old," she commented.

As George grows older, his parents will continue to guide him while allowing him agency in his choices. "By the time he is that age, George will be making his own decisions, and I'm sure they will encourage him to do so," Dampier predicted. "Their attitude is very much, give him the tools to decide his own direction, not force him into things he doesn't want to do so that he's weighed down with responsibility." Dampier concluded, "They will need to strike a balance between him not being overwhelmed but also accepting his fate. The next few years will be important ones, but George looks like he's got firm foundations to build on," as per

OK! Magazine

.