Prince George becoming King will see 'massive break in royal tradition'

Prince George becoming King will see 'massive break in royal tradition'

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Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 16/05/2024

- 17:43

The young prince will celebrate his 11th birthday in two months

  • Prince George is the eldest child of Princess Kate and Prince William
  • He attends Lambrook School near his home in Windsor
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Prince George becoming King will see a "massive break in royal tradition", royal commentators have claimed.

It is understood the prince, 10, will continue his grandfather's approach towards a "less formal" modern, slimmed-down monarchy.


However, if he chooses to break the mould and not take part in military service, he may miss out on an "important sense of discipline", royal commentators have argued.

Simon Vigar, a royal commentator, said: "It is a slimmed-down Royal Family already.

Prince George

Prince George is second-in-line to the throne

Getty

"It is less formal, it's not quite as starchy as it used to be, and I think George will continue that.

"You know he's the first future king to have a 'commoner' as his mum, that in itself is a massive break from tradition."

Meanwhile, Richard Kay, another royal commentator, said the future British monarchy will be "much more like the monarchies on mainland Europe".

Appearing in the documentary Prince George: A King for the Future, Kay said: "Charles is trying to manage the monarchy from a monarchy that was really founded on empire into one where we're now just a small island and country.

Prince George

Prince George at Trooping the Colour in 2023

PA

​"And we have to adjust our expectations and by the time George becomes King, the monarchy will be very different."

Last year, it was reported that George would not be expected to serve in the military before becoming King, breaking centuries of tradition.

It would be a significant departure for the Royal Family as the monarch is Commander-in-Chief of Britain's forces.

George's father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandmother and great-grandfather all served in the military, sticking to a centuries-old precedent.

Prince George and Prince William

Prince George and Prince William photographed at Wimbledon last year

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Prince William and Prince GeorgePrince William and Prince George are both Aston Villa fansPA

Royal biographer Robert Jobson believes Prince George should spend time in the military.

He said: "It gives them a sense of discipline. When you're in the army there's no Lieutenant Wales or Captain Wales.

"They're not generals, so they have to sort of obey the rank, which I think is very important so they don't get above themselves."

Writing in The Mail last year, historian Dominic Sandbrook said: "The tradition of royals joining the Armed Forces, even for brief periods, lends crucial legitimacy to the monarchy."

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