Kate Middleton and William face huge decision as 'reality hits home' for George

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The upcoming summer break will provide the Princess of Wales with a valuable opportunity to spend quality time with her family before her three children embark on a new academic year. This summer will be particularly significant for Kate, as substantial changes are looming on the horizon, especially for Prince George.
As Kate and Prince William's eldest child celebrates his 12th birthday on 22 July, he will soon be entering his final year at Lambrook School alongside his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, before transitioning to secondary education.
Recently, George, who is second in line to the throne, has been making more public appearances as he approaches his teenage years, with Kate offering gentle guidance at each event.
As George turns 12, he faces not only the prospect of joining a new school next year but also the dawning realisation of his future role. According to former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond, "the reality of his destiny has begun to hit home" at this age.
(Image: PA)
(Image: Getty Images)
Jennie tells the Mirror: "He tends to look rather serious when he's 'on parade' these days. Charlotte looks demure, Louis looks impish, but George sometimes looks rather preoccupied to me. And who can blame him? 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.
"But he's not, by any means, always a serious little chap. When he's with his dad at a football match, or fooling around with his siblings and his father, he has a wonderful smile on his face, and seems happy and relaxed.", reports the Mirror.
In May, George undertook his most significant Royal engagement yet when he attended commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Alongside Charlotte and Louis, he mingled with veterans to watch a military parade, and made an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the RAF flypast.
Taking a major step in his Royal duties, he joined his parents in conversing with Second World War heroes at a Buckingham Palace tea party. He listened attentively to their poignant stories and asked questions about their experiences.
He was guided through the event by Kate, 43, who beckoned him over to chat with the former servicemen and women, helping her eldest son feel comfortable.
The veterans at the gathering spoke highly of the young prince's curiosity about their wartime experiences. Last month, George also accompanied his grandfather, King Charles, for Trooping the Colour, riding in a carriage and, once again, appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for another impressive RAF flypast.
Prince George is not alone on his journey towards adolescence, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge by his side every step of the way. Despite an increasing public profile, Kate and William are adamant about giving George and his siblings as normal a life as possible.
This includes a regular education, cheering on Aston Villa at football matches with his dad, and only making appearances at the most significant Royal events. This approach marks a departure from Prince William's own teenage years, which were spent navigating the complexities of his parents' separation and time at boarding school.
At the tender ages of 15 and 12, William and Prince Harry endured the devastating loss of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, who tragically passed away in a car accident in Paris in 1997.
Kate, however, is acutely aware of the profound impact early childhood has on later life, undoubtedly applying this knowledge in raising her children.
Jennie comments: "I think George's close and loving relationship with his parents will prove invaluable as he continues to grow up. Catherine is now such an expert on how children develop and the emotions they go through: her support and advice for George will continue to be a key factor in his wellbeing."
One Royal who, Jennie believes, will have set a precedent on how to raise a future King is the mother-in-law Kate never met - Diana. Her unique approach to parenting, which entirely rewrote the Royal rule book, saw her insist that William and Harry were exposed to life beyond palace walls, whilst simultaneously ensuring they both grasped the magnitude of their roles.
She famously took her sons to McDonald's, made them queue like everyone else during days out at theme parks, and even brought them to homeless shelters to expose them to life outside the Royal bubble.
Those childhood visits evidently had an impact on William, now 43, who has publicly stated his ambition is to end homelessness and concedes he, too, would be open to taking George to meet those who are experiencing homelessness.
Jennie believes that Diana's approach, as well as allowing her children to be normal boys, will have undoubtedly influenced William - and, in turn, Kate - regarding how to raise George. She adds: "I think William has drawn on the openly loving and tactile relationship he had with his mother to help him bring up his own children.
"He will remember how Diana insisted that her boys should know more about the real world than royal princes before them. She made them aware of having play days and work days. On play days they could wear jeans, eat burgers and enjoy go-karting. On work days they had to dress and behave as princes of the realm.
"I think William has made sure that his own children have as many play days as possible, but he and Catherine have also gradually introduced them to the formal world of being royal."
The upcoming weeks will likely see increased speculation about which secondary school George will attend. Jennie believes it will be a challenging decision for William and Kate, who will also be considering what's best for Charlotte and Louis.
"For so many youngsters, teenage years can be hard, but for a prince, everything is a whole lot harder," she says. "First and foremost, the school has to be able to offer or accommodate 24/7 protection. Then there is the impact on other pupils because, like it or not, George will always be different.
"I suppose Eton remains high on the list - for William the school was a haven at a very, very difficult time in his life following his mother's death - but Marlborough College is definitely another contender.
"Catherine enjoyed her years there, especially the sports facilities, and a big plus must be that it is co-educational, so the other two children could join George there."
Both schools boast impressive alumni, with Prince Harry also attending Eton, along with prime ministers such as David Cameron and Boris Johnson, and actors Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston. Meanwhile, former Marlborough pupils include Princess Eugenie, comedian Jack Whitehall and Samantha Cameron, the wife of former Prime Minister David Cameron.
"Personally, I would like to see the siblings at the same school because I think they would be a great comfort to one another during these tricky years," Jennie opines.
"I would also like to see them at a day school, or as weekly boarders, so that they could still enjoy the lovely, cosy home environment that William and Catherine have worked so hard to create for them."
Jennie emphasises the importance of privacy, noting, "William was given a good deal of privacy at Eton, especially after Diana's death. And I think he will do everything possible to make sure that George and the others are able to negotiate this important growing up stage of their lives without worrying that cameras are around every corner."
However, when it comes to making the ultimate decision, it's clear Kate will prioritise what's best for George, with Jennie remarking on his readiness for the future due to his parents' guidance.
She remarks, "I think George is pretty lucky to have these two as his parents. And if Catherine needs advice, then I think the best person she can turn to is her husband - who is living out the very same destiny himself."