Latest news with #Waleses
Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'A beautiful bond': Royal fans are all saying the same thing about this 'sweet' detail in new Prince George video as future King of England celebrates his 12th birthday
To mark Prince George's 12th birthday, the Prince and Princess of Wales have released a new portrait and short video capturing a candid moment between the future King and his younger siblings- and royal watchers are all saying the same thing. Filmed earlier this year in Norfolk, the video features Prince George alongside Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, walking and laughing through grassy fields and posing for family photos. At first, George is seen posing alone. But the mood shifts once Charlotte and Louis join him, with the video capturing a spontaneous and joyful moment between the three siblings. In one scene, Charlotte grabs Louis by the legs as George lifts him under the arms, the trio bursting into laughter. The children are then seen strolling hand-in-hand, with George and Charlotte keeping a firm grip on the ever-cheeky Louis to help him keep pace. "12 today!" the Prince and Princess of Wales captioned the video, which was shared to social media on Tuesday (local time). Fans were quick to flood the comments with praise for the candid footage and the clear affection between the royal siblings. "What a sweet video and such a beautiful sibling bond! Their giggles are precious," one user wrote. "What happy sounds! This is so lovely," said another. "Those are three happy children and it's so lovely to see their bond," a third added. "Aww, this is the sweetest video ever," one fan gushed. "It truly is so heartwarming to see this bond! I have no doubt Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are helping their parents make Prince George's day so special." The video was released shortly after Kensington Palace shared George's official birthday portrait, a relaxed, smiling image taken by photographer Josh Shinner, again in rural Norfolk. "Happy 12th Birthday to Prince George!" the Waleses captioned the post. Followers responded with warm birthday wishes and remarks on his growing resemblance to other royal family members, most notably his father, Prince William. "Happy Birthday Prince George! You look more like your Dad every year!" one post read, with more than 200 likes at the time of writing. "Where did those 12 years go! Wishing Prince George a very happy birthday full of family fun," said another. "Happy Birthday to our little (not so little anymore) Future King," a third chimed in. One user noted: "You can definitely tell he is Diana's grandson." As the eldest son of Prince William and Princess Catherine, Prince George is second in line to the throne and well aware of the responsibilities that lie ahead. While most 12-year-olds don't give much thought, if any at all, to their future careers, George's path has already been set, with his royal role gradually growing in prominence. The family lives at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate, where William and Catherine are said to be focused on giving their children as normal an upbringing as possible. Still, royal duties await, and with tradition dictating that future kings shouldn't travel together, George is no longer permitted to fly on the same aircraft as his father. In recent years, George has appeared at high-profile events including Trooping the Colour and King Charles' Coronation, where he served as a Page of Honour. More recently, in May, he joined his parents at a Buckingham Palace tea party with Second World War veterans to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day- his most significant solo engagement to date. While George wasn't originally scheduled to attend, Prince William revealed his son had been "very keen" to join after watching the military parade earlier that day. Currently a student at Lambrook School in Berkshire alongside his siblings, George will move on to secondary school next year. Although Eton College, Prince William's alma mater, has been widely speculated, it's understood that the Waleses may instead be considering co-educational Marlborough College, Princess Catherine's former school. Either way, it's likely that the young Prince will participate in some form of military training throughout his formative years. "You can guarantee that George, whether he likes it or not, will have to go through that military training," former royal aide Grant Harrold told online learning portal Study Dog. "Both William and Charles had military training. You're the commanding chief of the Armed Forces, so you've got to know the profession. "However, there might not be so much pressure when it comes to George; only time will tell."
Cosmopolitan
2 days ago
- General
- Cosmopolitan
How Prince George's title will change when Prince William becomes King
When Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96, her son Prince Charles immediately ditched his "Prince of Wales" title and became King Charles III, leaving his former title up for grabs by Prince William. And it looks like history will almost definitely repeat itself once Prince William levels up to King William, thereby opening up the title for his son Prince George. But! There are some things to consider before jumping to the conclusion that George will take on this fancy new title as soon as his dad is king. For starters... Prince William will morph into King William pretty much the second King Charles passes away, and in that moment the title "Prince of Wales" will technically "ceases to exist," according to Brittanica. It sounds very dramatic, but honestly it's more like the "Prince of Wales" title is simply put on ice to stay chill (and readily available) until the King decides to bestow it upon someone. In other words: No one is becoming the Prince of Wales until King William is good and ready for them to be, mmkay! And has done so since the 1300s! In the case of future King William, the heir apparent will obviously be Prince George since he's the eldest son of Prince William and Kate Middleton. But depending on when William becomes a king, Prince George could still be pretty young when the "Prince of Wales" title is technically ready for him to take on. Which begs the question... Again, George is only 11 years old and the Waleses have made it clear they hope to keep their kids out of the spotlight as much as possible, for as long as possible. That said, there isn't a minimum age requirement when it comes to being Prince of Wales (King Charles was only 10 years old when Queen Elizabeth granted him the title), and monarchs typically bestow the honour right away. King Charles waited just one day after his mother's death to make Prince William and Kate Middleton the Prince and Princess of Wales. This title traditionally goes to the eldest son of the monarch and doesn't need to be formally granted, it just sort of happens the moment the previous Duke of Cornwall becomes King. And when George does become the Duke of Cornwall, he'll gain possession of the Duchy of Cornwall, which is a multi million dollar money making machine. (Note: It's unclear what happens if George gets the Duchy of Cornwall before the age of 18—other than him becoming one of the richest kids in Britain). Oh and before we go, George's siblings likely won't be getting much in the way of titles (Princess Charlotte could become "Princess Royal" one day, TBD), but that's how their parents want it. It turns out Kate and William do not sound here for their younger children being working royals and hope Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will forge their own paths. As an insider put it to the Daily Beast, 'The working assumption is that the younger two children will get on and do their own thing. They will be encouraged to not become working royals." They added that Wills and Kate have a "deliberate strategy to let Charlotte and Louis choose their own destiny." Nice for some! *camera pans to George* Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm, She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Kate Middleton's 'strict rules' for kids as Prince George gets 'guiding hand'
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are all on their summer break from school - and Jennie Bond reveals what mum Kate might have in store for them while away from class The summer holidays are upon us - and for the Prince and Princess of Wales, fresh from their surprise Wimbledon appearance, royal duties will take a back seat for the next few weeks, as they spend precious time with their children. Like youngsters across the country, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis are all now on their summer break from Lambrook School before they head back to class in September. The family will likely retreat away to enjoy their time together, possibly decamping to their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, where they can immerse themselves in country life and possibly even enjoy a holiday elsewhere too. Kate, who previously spoke about her 'rollercoaster' recovery from cancer treatment and its life-changing impact, has been a huge advocate for spending time outdoors. And former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells OK! that as Kate, and indeed William, come up with ways to keep their brood occupied over the long holiday - there are seven golden rules they'll most likely abide by... Ring-fenced private time Kate may still be gradually returning to public duties following her cancer treatment, but even before her health scare, spending school holidays with the children seems to have always been a non-negotiable for the princess. And for Jennie, this summer will be no exception, making the break a stark change from the holidays Prince William once enjoyed at his children's age, which were very much played out in the public eye. She explained: "The truth is that school holidays are ring-fenced as private time for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their young family. And, these days, that means that their plans remain confidential and they are pretty much left alone. "It's a massive change from the days when William was a boy. Back then, the paparazzi and mainstream media regarded Diana, William and Harry as public property, no matter where they were. Thankfully, after the death of the Princess, things changed. And that must be a huge relief to the Waleses." Down-to-earth activities But even though, as royals, William and Kate could choose to take their children anywhere in the world for the holidays, flying on private jets and enjoying luxury hotels, Jennie doesn't believe this will be the case. In fact, she thinks their summer time spent together will be a lot more down-to-earth - outside in the Great British countryside and possibly even getting their hands dirty on the farm near their country retreat. She said: "They love the wide open spaces in Norfolk, the freedom they have to explore the Sandringham estate and also to play, pretty unhindered, on the beaches. The Sandringham farm offers an opportunity for all sorts of fun for the children, tractors to watch, animals to feed and fruit to pick. The family is also very fond of the Scilly Isles, and I wouldn't be surprised if they spent a week or two there. "William and Catherine are doing their best to give their children as down-to-earth an upbringing as possible, given the extraordinary place they've been given in the world." Restricted screen time However, one major issue facing parents everywhere this summer is how much screen time to allow their children, something William and Kate will be painfully aware of as they navigate raising their kids in a digital world. In recent times, on a trip to the Lake District with the Scouts, Kate has talked about getting out into nature and using traditional paper maps rather than relying on phones to plot walking routes. Meanwhile, William has also warned youngsters about the importance of putting down their devices. Jennie added: "William has spoken about George's love of video games, and they have both talked about 'regulating' their children's screen time. Even TV watching can apparently be problematic, with battles over who should be in charge of the remote. "But, especially with Catherine's expertise in children's development, I'm sure they'll be pretty rigorous about monitoring who watches what - and for how long." Household chores But it's not just screen time that Jennie believes Kate will be keeping an eye on; she also thinks that the princess will be encouraging her children to pull their weight around the house with household chores. When at their Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor, the Wales family do not have any live-in staff, as they strive to maintain a normal, family atmosphere. And even though it might be the summer holidays and a time for fun, Jennie believes simple chores might still remain for the children, set by Kate and William. She explained: "I wouldn't be in the least surprised if the children were given a few household chores such as tidying their rooms, filling the dishwasher, brushing the dog and cleaning up after the puppies. "William and Catherine have both lived life outside the Palace walls, shopping, cooking and cleaning when they were at university and, afterwards, when they lived on Anglesey. They will want their children to understand that, even if you're royal, you can still treat your home and parents with respect - and pull your weight." School work cast aside But despite the screen-time restrictions and chores to get done, it doesn't mean it will be all work and no play. That's because Jennie believes any school work for George, Charlotte and Louis will be firmly pushed to one side in favour of quality family time in a true break from class. "There may be some school projects to get on with – particularly for George and Charlotte – but these long holidays are really a time to put their studies on one side and just enjoy being kids", she said. "William, Catherine and the children will have plenty of time to be just the five of them – in Norfolk and wherever else they choose to go." Royal tradition observed The summer usually means no royal engagements for the Wales family during their heavily protected family time. After William, Kate, George and Charlotte's surprise outing at Wimbledon last week for the men's singles final, it is likely official appearances will now dry up until September. However, Jennie is almost certain there will be one royal tradition Kate, William and the kids will be eager to take part in - the annual trip to Balmoral. The Scottish Highlands estate was the favourite home of the late Queen and was once described as her happy place. Since becoming King, Charles has continued the tradition of inviting his family members for a long weekend all together at the estate each August, something the Wales family have very much been a part of. "It's a long-standing tradition that the family gather in Scotland to catch their breath, enjoy the peace of the countryside and just have fun being together", Jennie said. "Charles relishes spending time with his grandchildren. Camilla has talked about how good he is at reading stories and putting on all the appropriate voices. Of course, George and Charlotte might feel they are a little old to be read to, but I'm sure Louis will still enjoy his grandfather's storytelling. Then there's the fishing, the picnics, the ponies - and lots of cousins coming and going, as the castle hosts the extended family. "I doubt whether Charles has continued his mother's tradition of leaving gifts for the children, but he's much more likely to play practical jokes or have a romp around the house and gardens with them. And I'm sure he also enjoys teaching them about the wildlife and the countryside up there. "It may also be a time when, perhaps on the walk across the moors, he chooses to offer a guiding hand to George about what lies ahead." Middleton meet-ups But it's not just their royal relatives that the Wales family will spend time with, Jennie believes time will also almost certainly be carved out for them to all spend time with Kate's family, including her parents, Carole and Michael. The future Queen's mum and dad have been a rock for their daughter as well as their grandchildren during Kate's cancer treatment. And in a telling move last year, they were the only ones other than Kate, William and the children to appear in an emotional video released to mark the end of the princess's chemotherapy treatment. Their closeness to their grandchildren was also evident at Christmas at Kate's annual carol concert, where Louis hung a handwritten note on a kindness tree thanking his 'Grannie and Grandpa' for "playing games with me". And Jennie added: "They adore their granny and granddad Middleton and now have lots of little cousins on that side of the family to enjoy spending time with."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince George's birthday tradition started by Diana that leaves William struggling
With Prince George's 12th birthday right around the corner, the Waleses will no doubt be indulging in a years-long tradition that was initiated by Princess Diana, that Prince William struggles with every year With Prince George 's 12th birthday just around the corner, the royal family will no doubt be celebrating the milestone day. With many birthday traditions to honour as the second in line to the throne approaches his adolescence, the Waleses are expected to pull out all the stops to make the day special. Princess Kate has previously shared details of a series of birthday traditions the family indulge in, including the fact that Kate will often stay up until midnight to make birthday cakes for her children's big days. However, there is one cheeky tradition that was originated by Princess Diana, that Prince William struggles with each year. The tradition first began when Princess Diana would give the children of her good friend, Julia Samuel, noisy gifts that were difficult to put together: entertaining the child and frustrating the parents in equal measure. Julia, who is one of Prince George's seven godparents, has since passed the tradition down to the Wales family, meaning year after year, Prince William gets stuck with the irritating task. Samuels first talked about the funny tradition when she was a guest on the podcast How to Fail with Elizabeth Day, in an episode in 2020 to mark what would have been Diana's 59th birthday, as she explained: "I do to George what [Diana] did to us, which is give impossible toys that are really noisy and take a lot of making. "William then has to spend days putting them together. And then put all the machinery together, and it makes awful tooting noises and lights flashing and all of that." She added that the rest of the family takes great pleasure in watching William struggle with the gifts, especially "cheeky" George. She explained that it "makes [her] laugh, and it makes George laugh." Asked about her royal godson George, Julia said he was "amazing", adding her dear friend Diana would have adored him too. "He's funny and feisty and cheeky and God she [Diana] would have loved him so much," she said. "That is heart-breaking for all of them." Princess Diana never got to meet her grandchildren, as she was just 36 years old when she tragically died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Prince William was 15 years old at the time of his mother's death, while Prince Harry was just 12. Despite the fact that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis never got to meet their grandmother, Prince William has long talked about how he keeps her memory alive with his three children by making sure they all know details about Diana's life. During an appearance in the 2017 ITV documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, William said: "So we've got more photos up round the house now of her and we talk about her a bit and stuff. And it's hard because obviously Catherine didn't know her, so she cannot really provide that level of detail. "So I do, regularly, putting George or Charlotte to bed, talk about her and just try and remind them that there are two grandmothers, there were two grandmothers in their lives. And so it's important that they know who she was and that she existed."
Cosmopolitan
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
How Prince William Shows Respect to Kate Middleton
As Wimbledon wrapped for another year (congrats Sinner and Świątek!), fans of the Royal Family were treated to a rare sighting of the Prince and Princess of Wales enjoying the day together, along with two of their three children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Thanks to the Princess' role as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, ever since 2016 it is custom for her to present the winners of the Ladies' and Mens' Singles with their trophy prize. Making two appearances this year—one without her family on the 12th of July and one with on the 13th—the royal clan later shared happy photos of their outing on Instagram... which sparked eagle-eyed royal fans to comment on a perceived sweet but subtle gesture that Prince William appeared to make when supporting Catherine at the tournament. Commenting on the Prince falling back and allowing Catherine, George, and Charlotte to walk ahead and greet the Wimbledon crowds, one person remarked (amassing over 1,000 likes in response), 'Love the way Prince William let his family walk ahead of him. Such a beautiful and subtle show of respect.' Another added, 'I love that William knows that she's the show stopper here! 👑. That's respect and love and teaching his kiddos how to treat their Mum!' However, while the gesture might seem super romantic and just plain make sense given that Catherine is a tennis patron, it could actually just be down to royal tradition. Yep, that family has a whole bunch of rules that the rest of us would never even think about when it comes to our own relatives. Typically, because Prince William is next in line to the throne and the most senior royal of the Waleses, it's expected that his wife and children walk a pace or two ahead of him as a mark of respect. When entering an event as a whole family, King Charles is expected to be the last person to enter, given he is the actual monarch, with both Prince William and Queen Camilla in front of him. So there you have it—a mark of respect and a royal rule upheld. We love to see it.
