As Prince George approaches his 12th birthday on July 22, observers have noted an increasingly serious demeanour during his public appearances.
The young royal has appeared prominently alongside his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, at recent major engagements like Trooping the Colour and VE Day celebrations.
During the VE Day ceremonies in May, George undertook some of his first royal duties as he accompanied his parents, Prince William and Princess Kate, Buckingham Palace tea party with Second World War veterans.
However, veteran royal expert Jennie Bond believes George's "destiny" as the nation's future King one day may be weighing on him.
Prince George’s ‘serious’ demeanour has suggested his 'destiny' as a future king may be weighing on him.
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She observed that the young Prince: "Tends to look rather serious when he's 'on parade' these days."
Bond believed he appeared "rather preoccupied" when compared to his siblings.
"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," Bond explained to The Mirror.
George took on his first royal duties during May's VE Day celebrations, attending a tea party for World War Two veterans alongside his parents.
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The second in line to the throne has reached an age where "the reality of his destiny has begun to hit home", according to the royal expert.
However, the George is "not, by any means, always a serious little chap," Bond emphasised.
"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," she said.
George regularly attends Birmingham club Aston Villa matches with Prince William, displaying a more carefree side away from formal royal duties.
Bond observed that George often looks happy in other settings, including attending Aston Villa matches with his father.
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George introduction to royal duties in May, when he participated in commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, gave an insight into his future as a more regular attender at royal events.
Taking a major step in his royal life, George joined his parents at a Buckingham Palace tea party with Second World War veterans.
The Princess of Wales, 43, guided her eldest son through the engagement, beckoning him over to speak with former servicemen and women whilst helping him feel at ease.
George listened intently to their wartime stories and asked questions about their experiences, impressing the veterans with his curiosity and thoughtful enquiries.
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Prince George is preparing to attend senior school in September 2026.
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Elsewhere, Kate and William have been mulling over another decision for Prince George's future as they decide what senior school he will attend in September 2026.
"For so many youngsters, teenage years can be hard, but for a prince, everything is a whole lot harder," Bond reckoned, noting that any school must accommodate 24/7 protection.
"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," she said.
It has been recently suggested that the Prince and Princess of Wales appear have settled on Eton as their choice for their eldest son.
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