Prince William Is Determined to Give Prince George a “Less Stressful Childhood” Than His Own
Prince William Is Determined to Give Prince George a “Less Stressful Childhood” Than His Own
Rachel BurchfieldSat, September 26, 2026 at 7:20 PM UTC
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Kate Middleton and Prince William with Prince George as he arrives for his first day at Eton College on September 8.Credit: GettyThe Gist -
Prince William wants to shield Prince George from the weight of the crown for as long as possible.
William and his wife, Kate Middleton, have worked to give George and their two younger children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, a relatively ordinary upbringing.
The couple allow their kids room to have fun while also giving them some independence.
Prince William knows all too well the weight of the crown and the pressures of growing up in the royal spotlight. Because of this, he hopes to shield his eldest son, Prince George, from some of those same experiences for as long as possible.
William and his wife, Kate Middleton, have worked hard to give George and their two younger children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, a relatively ordinary upbringing—all things considered. This means there’s plenty of room for childhood fun, along with a growing sense of independence as they get older. And according to one royal biographer, their efforts appear to be paying off.“[George] is having a less stressful childhood than his dad did,” Robert Hardman told Hello! last year. “One of the things that William regards as extremely important is his role not just as heir, but as father of an heir.”
Prince George at the Glasglow Commonwealth Games on August 1.Credit: Getty
“They’ve given it a lot of thought and been sensible about it,” Hardman said of William and Kate. “William enjoyed his school days and wants to make sure his son does.”
Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith provided further insight, telling the outlet that “stability is very important” to the Prince and Princess of Wales. “They are committed to providing the children with a solid family life and trying to make their lives as normal as possible, given the unusual circumstances of their position.”
Prince William, Princess Charlotte, and Prince George at Glasglow Commonwealth Games on August 1.Credit: Getty
William himself has been candid about the challenges of his early life, which included navigating his parents’ King Charles’s and Princess Diana’s tumultuous split and his mother’s tragic death, all while balancing royal duties.
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“I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past, that Harry and I had to grow up in—and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation,” William said during an October 2025 episode of Eugene Levy’s series The Reluctant Traveler, per People.
William and Kate’s approach to modern royal parenting was evident in George’s 12th birthday portrait, which showed him posing in the Norfolk countryside. He also appeared in a joyful video alongside his siblings. “There’s no jacket and tie—it’s authentic countryside fun,” Hardman said. “It’s nice to see George smiling so much.”
George appeared equally at ease in his latest portrait, taken on his first day at Eton College on September 8. In the photos, the young royal wore his new uniform, consisting of a black tailcoat, waistcoat, white collar and pinstriped trousers. He flashed a wide smile while standing beneath an archway in one image and leaning against a column in another.
And in keeping with their desire to give George some freedom in how he’s raised, William and Kate reportedly made sure their eldest son had a say in where he would attend school.
Prince William, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton, and Princess Charlotte during Trooping the Colour 2025.Credit: Getty
Perhaps a testament to their parenting, George reportedly chose Eton because of William. “[He’s] always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps,” a source close to the family told People, referring to William’s own time at Eton.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
