Christmas is just weeks away, and just like millions in the UK, the royal family is preparing for the holidays. What they will receive for Christmas, we don’t know. But in recent weeks, George has undoubtedly made himself worthy of some lovely presents as he’s been putting in a lot of work for school and his future education.
The royals have begun with their Christmas spirit and attended the Together At Christmas event at Westminster Abbey. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis were all dressed up for the fabulous evening, but royal fans could not let one detail go.
It was about Prince George – and how quickly he is growing up.
Prince George has been studying for his ISEB multiple-choice exam covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning, mathematics, and English in the last few weeks.
Prince George’s future education
It is a critical test, as it is used as a “sub-selection process” for entrance into the top schools, such as Eton, which George has already visited with his parents.
“The grading or the testing is very competitive to get into Eton, it’s one of the most sought-after schools in the world, and it begins two years early, it’s like a sub-selection process,” historian Tessa Dunlop told OK! Magazine. “It’s also quite difficult if you weren’t royal, it’s very competitive, but I’m sure George will get in.”
She added, “I expect George is quite a bright young fella, but he’ll be being assessed and he’ll sit exams. George won’t need private tuition because that will be part of the package that they’ve paid for within Lambrook, within the private preparatory school.”
Some months ago, George was spotted looking around Eton College alongside his parents. Both Prince William and Prince Harry attended the prestigious boarding school in the past.
Eton’s tuition is around £46,000 ($59,000) a year. Though Prince George won’t join the school – or any other – until he turns 13, children have to be registered for the school when they turn 10, according to the school’s website.
However, things have changed now. Today, it might not be sure George will pay attention at all – but walk in his mother’s footsteps instead.
The discussions about the royal children’s future education have been a hot topic. Prince William and Princess Kate – alongside King Charles – have decided on a different school.
“Heated” arguments over George’s future among royals
Instead of the possibility of Eton, as reported by the Mirror, Prince George and Princess Charlotte are expected to attend boarding school together at Marlborough College. The same school their mother attended.
However, the discussions between the senior royal family members regarding the children’s future education were said to have been heated.
“After years of discussion and heated debates between William, Kate, and King Charles III, the family has made a choice,” a royal source told Life & Style. “They’ve decided that he and sister Charlotte will attend boarding school together.
“While the royal family expected that George would follow in William’s footsteps, Kate got the final say. They’ll both be students at Marlborough. This way, George and Charlotte will have a few years where they’ll overlap at the same school.”
“Kate has fond memories of her time there and feels it’s a better fit for her children., the source added. “Kate’s always wanted them to have more of a normal upbringing than William did. She knows full well that in a few short years, George’s life is going to drastically change.”
Christmas is coming, and the royal children, like everyone else, have earned a well-deserved break from school. We all have different Christmas traditions, and one of the youngest in the royal sphere occurred just days ago.
For the third year in a row, Princess Kate hosted the exceptional Carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 8, which then will air on TV on Christmas Eve.
Kate’s Christmas carol service
This year, “the service will be a moment to thank all those who work to support babies, young children, and families in our communities across the UK and a celebration of the golden opportunity that the birth of a new baby brings,” the Palace announced a month ago.
Princess Kate played the piano for the carol service two years ago. And according to PR expert Andrew Bloch, the fact that the Princess of Wales is hosting the festive Carol service makes her even more popular and positions her as a future queen.
“What Kate has done brilliantly is elevating her status and position within the broader royal family brand. Having a slot on Christmas Eve, it’s evidence of her appeal,” he told Mirror.
“If ITV didn’t think there would be any audience interest in that, they wouldn’t give her that slot, which is a prime time slot over the Christmas period. Not necessarily consciously a power move, but she is positioning herself as a key member of the royal family and developing a brand in her own right.”
Andrew Bloch added, “Through her activities over the course of the last few years, she’s really started to win a place in the nation’s hearts. We’ve got to know her, not just as Prince William’s wife but as the Princess of Wales and as a personality in her own right.”
Moreover, Andrew claims that getting a slot on Christmas Eve is in Kate’s favor.
“No doubt having this audience is going to lead to an increase in popularity and everything she does elevates her brand, but it’s done in a very natural way, it isn’t forced. She’s genuinely empathic and authentic, and I think people are getting to know her better, and they like it.”
Royal fans react to new picture of Prince George
The “Together at Christmas” carol service event at Westminster Abbey went great, and of course, George, Charlotte, and Louis were all there, together with their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales.
They got to see singers Beverley Knight and Adam Lamberg perform. But also, the royal children showed their emphatic side during the night. In a special card box, as reported by the Mirror, George, Charlotte, and Lous posted special Christmas cards on which they had written messages to children who might be struggling with Christmas.
The royal children were all dressed up and looked all grown-up. But there was one thing fans couldn’t help but comment on.
George is growing up very fast – and he has become very tall.
“I know perspective distorts but isn’t George getting tall!” one person wrote, as reported by Daily Star.
Another added, “How fast Prince George is growing!”
“Prince George is so tall, Princess Charlotte’s hair is so long, and I can’t believe Prince Louis is only 5 years old,” a third stated.
This is not the first time royal fans have reacted to how quickly George is growing up.
Could become tallest king in history
For the Easter Sunday service earlier this year, fans couldn’t help but notice that Prince Geoge was getting very tall – and that his confidence was indeed showing through.
“George has gotten so tall!! All three have. But I can’t believe he’s going to be ten!!,” one person wrote.
“Prince George is a tall, solid-looking lad, which is what the Spencers were! Definitely a similarity to Prince George! Diana’s brother & in particular her father,” a second person stated.
“Prince George is going to be a tall man!” a third fan wrote. A fourth added: “Prince George is getting SO tall!! He’s nine years old!”
The young heir is already projected to make history in one field: the tallest king ever. Royal fans have reacted to pictures of George becoming quite tall, which might not be a surprise considering the respective heights of his parents. William stands 6ft 3in, and Kate is 5ft 9in.
We might even get a new royal record when George is fully grown. On paper, King Edward IV is the tallest king in English history, standing at 6ft 4 ½in.
Although George might break the tallest-king-ever record, another thing could make him a unique ruler. A long-time friend of Prince William told the Daily Mail that George may skip the long-lived tradition of serving in the army.
If that is the case, he will become the first male heir to the throne in centuries not to go through military training before becoming king.
King Charles served in the British Navy and British Army before becoming monarch. Prince William graduated from Royal Air Force College Cranwell and later joined the RAF Search and Rescue Force for two years, serving as an air ambulance pilot.
Taking on responsibility
“In theory, there is nothing to stop George from pursuing a career as an astronaut, for example, if that’s what he wants, and then becoming king later. The rules are different now, he wouldn’t necessarily have to follow the old formula of going into the military and then royal life,” the source told the Mail.
The fact that Prince George is taking on more responsibility by being on royal duty might be one thing. But body language expert Judi James says there is more than meets the eye.
When the royal family stepped out to attend the Easter Service earlier this year, Prince George’s behavior had changed into what James called a “grown-up” dynamic.
The prince walked in front of his family, leading the way, compared to last year when he stood between his parents.
“At this Easter service, there was a status step-up from George, who walked ahead to lead his family into the service, showing a newly grown-up dynamic from the five Waleses when it comes to royal outing,” Judi James told the Daily Mail.
“George used to be the one holding his father’s hand and looking rather timid, but here it was, Charlotte walking in alongside William while Kate held Louis’s hand beside them. Even this family pecking order had its upgrade, though, as Charlotte turned to look at her younger brother with what looked like a small checking gesture and then a beam of pride at his impeccable behavior.
The body language expert added, “George was the first of their party out after the service, shaking hands without any prompting.”
