Prince William and Kate Middleton were reportedly concerned about their son Prince George’s role in King Charles’ coronation last year. According to royal expert and commentator Tom Quinn, the Prince and Princess of Wales worried that the historic event might be overwhelming for their young son.
While the Waleses have a strong bond with the monarch, Quinn revealed that they had “a bit of an argument” over George’s involvement in the key event, as it brought back sad memories for William.
“I’ve heard from my contacts that there is a bit of an argument going on about whether George should play a more formal role,” Quinn told The Express. “I’ve heard that Kate and William are worried that it will be too much for him.”
Quinn drew parallels between George’s role in the coronation and the experiences of William and Prince Harry during their mother Princess Diana’s funeral. “It’s almost an echo of the way William and Harry were sometimes made to attend formal occasions that they shouldn’t have been made to attend – most famously, the funeral of their mother, and walking behind her coffin at their age,” he said.
“A lot of people criticized that and said that it was a horrible thing to make two boys that young, and especially Harry, do. So I think people are remembering this and thinking, ‘Well, hang on a minute, if George is some sort of a pageboy, or has a similar role at the Coronation, is that going back too far towards the traditional roles?'”
Quinn mentioned that the debate about George’s role was quite intense and had not been fully resolved. “So I’ve heard that there is a debate going on quite fiercely at the moment about how to do that. And, as far as I’ve heard, it hasn’t been decided yet.”
Despite these concerns, George, who is second in line to the British throne, played a prominent role in the coronation, making history as the youngest future king to participate in a crowning ceremony. His involvement was a significant moment, highlighting his future responsibilities while also reflecting the ongoing challenges of balancing tradition with the well-being of the royal family’s younger members.