On the eve of his teenage years officially beginning, Prince George’s future has many similarities to that of his father, Prince William.
In September, George will follow in his father’s footsteps by starting at his new school, Eton College, while, like William before him, he is also being gradually introduced to more and more royal duties. But for the Prince of Wales, his life at 13 couldn’t have been more different to that of his eldest son, who becomes a teenager tomorrow.
Back in June 1995, William turned 13 at the height of his own parents’ bitter split, which played out in public. It came just weeks before he started at Eton College as he and brother Prince Harry shuttled between living with mum, Princess Diana and their dad, then Prince Charles.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond recalled having a long chat during a meeting with the late Diana at Kensington Palace the exact month William turned 13.
The royal expert said the princess confided in her that at that time, the burden of future Kingship weighed heavily on William’s shoulders – although he was slowly coming to terms with his future role.
However, she told the Mirror: “At this time in his life, William was troubled by a great deal more than just his destiny. He had witnessed and lived through the brutal breakup of his parents’ marriage; he had supported his mother through her distress, anger, and sadness.
“He and Harry had become used to a rather nomadic life: sometimes with their father, sometimes with their mother and much of the time at school.
“Their parents’ private lives had become public. His father had admitted adultery on national television, and there was worse to come. It was only a few months after William’s 13th birthday, during his first term at Eton, that Diana recorded her now notorious Panorama interview in which she, too, admitted adultery and poured out her heart about her life and marriage. William was mortified.”
Now, William has put family life at the heart of everything he does, and today George is growing up in a more stable household away from the public spotlight – and having as normal an upbringing as possible while he gains a deeper understanding of his future duties.
And Jennie explained: “George may well feel the burden of Kingship on his shoulders, but he has two united and highly supportive parents who have always encouraged him to discuss his feelings and fears.
“He has been brought up in a stable, loving household – not sent away to boarding school at the age of eight – with parents who have consciously and unashamedly put their children before their work at important times in their lives and during school holidays.
“Of course, George and his siblings have had the trauma of their mother’s shock diagnosis of cancer and the treatment which followed, which is a terrible thing for any young boy to cope with. But George has had his father at his side.”
The dawn of his teenage years will see huge changes for George as his new school, which he will enrol in September, will see him board full-time for the first time.
Not only will it be a significant step for the future King, it will also be a big change for his parents and his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who all attended Lambrook School together.
But Jennie said: “William – and Catherine – are bound to worry about their little boy as he becomes a teenager and sets off for boarding school. It’s a huge step and a big change in any family.
“But William knows exactly what life is like at Eton and he knows exactly what it’s like to be an heir to the throne. There is no one better placed to help and guide George through his teenage years.
“Diana told me the country was lucky to have William. I think George is exceptionally lucky to have the parents he has. They have given him the best, most secure start in life: he knows how much they love one another and how much they love him. He looks like a young man well equipped for this next chapter.”
