Prince William and Kate Middleton praised for big Prince George ‘move’ as they ‘prepare him’ for royal future
Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, have been praised for a move they made over son George as they prepare him for his royal future.
During commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VE Day last week, William and Kate brought along their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.
But Prince George, 11, made a particularly lasting impression during one of his most significant public engagements to date.
In addition to appearing with the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a RAF flypast, George joined his parents for a veterans’ tea party in the palace’s Marble Hall.
The event was hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla. They welcomed around 50 veterans and individuals who had lived through the Second World War.
Prince William and Kate Middleton ‘preparing’ Prince George for royal future
One particularly touching moment came when George spoke to Alfred, a 101-year-old D-Day veteran.
George asked: “What was it like when you were coming in?”
Alfred, who had swam onto a beach during the Normandy landings under heavy shelling, candidly responded: “Pretty awful.”
He then looked George in the eye and said: “You know, it’s very important you are here today. It’s days like this that we should use to talk about things like this, so the younger generation can have some understanding.”
Royal author Robert Jobson has now praised Prince William and Kate’s decision to include George in such a meaningful way.
“This is probably the last big event where there will be veterans who served in the Second World War. So it will stick in his memory that he met people who fought, and give him a connection to them,” Robert told HELLO!.
They’re trying to be careful not to overwhelm him.
“Of course, he played a major part in the coronation, so he has done big events. But the fact that he was meeting and conversing with these veterans, I thought that was a really good move by William and Kate.”
George, who is second in line to the throne, is being gradually eased into royal appearances. Robert emphasised that his parents want to carefully guide George.
“They are preparing him for public life,” he said. “Kids can find it difficult to meet people, shake their hands and look them in the eye. But he does it very well. They’re trying to be careful not to overwhelm him, because he’s at a delicate age. But it’s very important, given that the late Queen is no longer here, to have that continuity going forward.”
William and Kate’s parenting of their three children
The Prince and Princess of Wales, 43, have offered glimpses into their parenting values.
Speaking at the Royal Foundation Forum in 2018, Kate reflected on how her royal duties have shaped her approach to motherhood.
“You can’t help but reflect on your own life. It’s definitely had an impact on how I look at how I mother, how we work as a family and how we hope to bring up our children.”
In November 2023, Kate and her three children visited a local baby bank.
They were photographed carrying boxes filled with books and toys, an effort to teach the importance of giving back, even at a young age.
Why did William and Kate name their son George?
Prince George, born on July 22, 2013, was given the name George Alexander Louis.
It has been speculated that the name George pays tribute to King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II.
William, 42, and Kate also reportedly liked the name’s traditional, regal tone.
The couple also apparently included their beloved English cocker spaniel, Lupo, in the naming process ahead of their son’s birth in 2013.
The couple wrote down a list of potential baby names on pieces of paper and laid them out on the floor of their home. Then they let Lupo roam freely to see which name he gravitated toward.
Lupo, who sadly died in 2020, trotted over to the paper labelled “George”, and the name stuck.
