Why Kate Middleton’s Role in Preparing Prince George for the Throne Is “Different” Than Prince William’s

George, now 12, seems to be aware of the destiny that awaits him someday.

The Gist

• Both Prince William and Kate Middleton are loving, supportive parents to their eldest son Prince George, who will one day be king.
• But in terms of preparing George for his destiny, the Prince and Princess of Wales are taking on “different” roles, royal historian Marlene Koenig said.
• Of Kate, “She is there to be the loving, supportive mom in everything George does, because he is her son first and foremost,” Koenig explained.

Both Prince William and Kate Middleton are preparing their eldest son, Prince George, for his future role as king—but, as royal historian Marlene Koenig put it, the Princess of Wales has a “different role” in that preparation than her husband does.

Speaking to Us Weekly, Koenig said that “She will never have a constitutional role, except as regent in a worst-case scenario, if George becomes king before age 18. She is there to be the loving, supportive mom in everything George does, because he is her son first and foremost.”

Whereas perhaps William—and even George’s grandfather, King Charles—are preparing George for the nuts and bolts of the role, Kate is there to provide support, encouragement, and, most of all, love. “She and William dated for nearly 10 years before their engagement was announced, which allowed her the time and space to learn about her future life as a member of the royal family,” Koenig said. “In time, as wife of the heir to the throne and eventually as a queen consort. She is also the mother of a future king.”

It’ll come down to the King and the Prince of Wales to give George “the knowledge and practice of their roles,” she added.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told The Mirror of George that “It is an extraordinary prospect to know that one day, you will be taking on the huge role that you are now watching your grandfather perform.” In May, George took a big step forward in his royal duties as he appeared alongside his parents at a Buckingham Palace tea party honoring veterans of World War II—an event that his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis did not attend alongside him.

“It was a safe, familiar place,” a source told Hello!. “William and Kate were clearly trying to give him a good experience. They both appeared protective, putting an arm around him from time to time, but they looked very proud of him by the end.”

Royal biographer Robert Hardman told Hello! that “It’s all part of a slow, incremental move towards his destiny. They’ve always been very clear about pacing it, not making the children do anything that puts them off the idea of being royal in the future. It’s a case of including him in things that he’ll enjoy, but that also touch on his life to come.”

Fellow royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith said, “I think we’ll see more of these kinds of encounters,” pointing to the fact that Princess Elizabeth—later Queen Elizabeth—was just 14 when she gave her first radio address.

“It’s still early for George to be doing more, but he’s being exposed to public life in a pretty intelligent way,” she continued. “They seem to be doing it all very thoughtfully.”

“Stability is a very important emphasis for George’s parents,” Bedell Smith said. “They are committed to providing the children with a solid family life and trying to make their lives as normal as possible, given the unusual circumstances of their position.”