When he was just a baby, I used to think that Prince George would end up being a wild child. I thought he would punch his way through the world and be the royal hellraiser. As he’s gotten older, I don’t think that’s the case anymore. He seems to have a more reserved personality, like his mother and father. Because George recently celebrated his fifth birthday, People Mag decided to do a piece on what he’s like these days: a bit shy, very reserved, but enjoying school. Some highlights:
He’s grown into a more reserved child: While Princess Charlotte has been waving up a storm at recent events, George is known to be more reserved when the cameras are on him. He waved shyly and hid behind dad Prince William outside Prince Harry‘s wedding to Meghan Markle in May and kept his head down while visiting their baby brother, Prince Louis, at the hospital shortly after his birth. However, a source tells PEOPLE that George is a talkative little prince once he gets to know someone. “George takes a little while to warm up, but once he’s comfortable with you, he’s very chatty and charming,” says the insider.
He’s happy at school: The source says the third heir in line to the throne is “very happy” at his new school, where he is known as George Cambridge.
He’s rambunctious when he gets the chance, like at his dad’s polo match: “George ran with his head up as fast as he could,” says an observer. “He looked back at Charlotte once or twice but kept on going. He was not holding back. And the first thing he did when he got there was slide down the hill on his bum.” Mom Kate pointed out a group of photographers to the children as a gentle reminder, but “she let them get on with it, sliding and rolling on the grass. They were loving the great big area to play in on such a sunny day.”
He doesn’t have much time for Charlotte: Like any big brother, George is “very independent now and not as interested in playing with Charlotte all the time,” the source adds. “They are close, but George likes to go off and do his own thing.”
None of this is especially new or noteworthy, right? It’s basically just people reiterating what we’ve already seen in photos – that George is pretty shy around most people but he still acts like a playful kid sometimes. I’d be more curious to learn about the rumors regarding what William and Kate have told George about his future and his place in the monarchy. Because I think George’s shyness is related to his limited understanding that he will be king one day, you know? Even if William and Kate haven’t spelled it out for him, I’m sure he’s heard it from his classmates, because those kids have heard it from their parents.
Photos courtesy of Instagram, WENN and Pacific Coast News.
My nephew is his age and I don’t think he would understand what being a king means at all. His day consists of pretending he is a power ranger and talking about motorcycles. I think it’s a bit too young to press George on this. I don’t think his friends are talking about it at school either. I’m sure in a few years that will be of an issue.
Totally agree. At my kid’s preschool, they didn’t even want parents to talk to our kids about moving on to Kindergarten until the time was *just right* – can’t imagine it would make sense for Will and Kate to say very much about George’s future right now either. He’s just too young to get it. I doubt his peers really get it either.
If there are any social-climbing families whose children attend school with George (and given the cost of the school, I imagine there are), I would not be surprised if they’ve told their kids about George’s status (and perhaps encouraged friendship with him).
I think one of the reasons they chose that school was so the chance of social-climbing parents would be a bit less. I’m sure there are still some, but most parents at St Thomas’s Battersea are working professionals, as that is who lives around there.
@Mumbles – even if these “social climbing” types have told their kids that George is a prince that could one day be king, there is very little chance that these 4/5 years old understand what that means. George doesn’t run around with a crown on his head, he doesn’t sit on a throne, he doesn’t use his title at school – he doesn’t bear any of the signifiers of royalty that young children understand.
I hope he is not shy about having to bow to his great grandmother. Hopefully George will grow out of it.
“Because I think George’s shyness is related to his limited understanding that he will be king one day, you know? “
I strongly disagree – some children are shy and slow to warm up. It’s just who they are, and that’s perfectly OK. My little one is the same way.
Yeah, he sounds 5. My daughter (5) is very much the same-shy until she gets comfortable and then very personable. And she’s got no chance of being Queen one day. She has friends who are very social from the get-go of meeting others. Kids are gonna kid.
That was what I thought also. He sounds like a typical 5 year old.
“Kids are gonna kid.” I love that so much. My daughter is the same.
I feel very uncomfortable dissecting the personalities of small children. I am sure that George’s parents must be furious about this all as well as the unfavourable comparisons to his sister.
I remember William being the big-personality hellion and Harry being a little shy when they were small boys. Things change! (But I hope Charlotte doesn’t. That kid cracks me up.)
Was Harry shy? I thought he was a class clown. I remember the video where Diana had to yank him away from the car window, where he was goofily sticking his tongue out at the press. I also remember when Diana was coming back from a trip, and how she treated her young boys. William went rushing into a major bear hug, and while Harry wanted a hug too, he didn’t “need” it and just kind of wiggled around good naturedly and waited.
Babypeanut – about those moments you mention: Harry stuck out his tongue because all of the paparazzi were calling names and sticking their tongues out at him, trying to provoke that exact reaction from him. For the yacht reunion footage, it’s worth noting Harry kicked William for getting the first hug from her 😀
My guess is he gets that people interact with him slightly differently than with the other children around him. He can’t articulate what that means because he’s 5 but he intuitively gets that something is slightly different. Children can be extremely perceptive.
The best thing William and Kate could do for George is to let him explore his abilities at school, follow his interests and allow him the freedom to just be a boy. Who knows if the monarchy will continue and if so, will it be in its present form? It’s unsustainable as it is. George would likely have to wait a whole working life to ascend the throne; he may as well have a career and know the pleasures of real achievement.
We all,know Charlotte is the boss in that family. Such a spunky girl!
This discernment will serve him well in future years!!
George’s shyness has nothing to do with his future role as king. I doubt he understands any of that, he’s 4? At 4, my mom tried explaining to me about where babies came from (probably because I asked her) and she went the scientific route of talking about eggs and sperm and all I remember understanding is I apparently had chicken eggs inside me and that is what I got from that discussion. When people said “fall in love”, I literally thought people were falling on the floor in front of the person they loved so for quite awhile I thought people had to fall in front of other people to show they were in love. When we moved (I was 4), I was under the impression the house was also moving with us. There is no way he understands the concept of being a king.
I was shy just like George too. I would hide behind my parents, stay very quiet, and be hyperaware of any new people I was introduced to. Once I warmed up, I was fine but it took a little bit to get me there. He’s a typical shy toddler and his personality may change when he is older.
“He’s reserved” I mean…it’s the Windsors. Which one of them is really out here being all that charming and charismatic. The ones who are like that married into the family, but everyone from the Queen down is buttoned up to the neck lol.
He is super cute.
Gosh, he’s cute. So Middleton!