Prince George might be second in line to the throne, but it’s Princess Charlotte who is quietly taking centre stage.
New Idea understands that Charlotte, 11, will be handed significant new royal responsibilities when George, 13, heads off to Eton College in September.
Despite her young age, the princess is more than ready for the challenge, already proving to be Princess Kate’s trusted mini-me at major public appearances.
“Charlotte’s having to take up the mantle left by George at boarding school, but it’s nothing she’s fazed by at all,” our royal insider reveals.
“She relishes being given more responsibilities – she’s a natural leader and is often the one to pull both her brothers into line at public events.”
Passionate about sports, Charlotte is already forging relationships with potential future patronages, ranging from elite ballet to netball.
Her confident appearance at the Wimbledon Men’s Final was merely the first hint of her transition into an official royal role.
Meanwhile, for eight-year-old Prince Louis, a formal life in the spotlight remains years away, with his parents keeping his public outings strictly to a minimum for good reason.
“Louis is still being carefully protected and growing up in a world that’s as ‘normal as possible’ but he’s starting to understand that his mum and dad are special and not every kid’s grandad is a king,” our source says.
“He’s going to miss his brother but is following Charlotte’s lead and being strong and brave.”
While Charlotte steps into the public eye, George’s preparation to become King will continue strictly behind Palace doors.
“William and Kate have spent the last 18 months carefully introducing George to public life without overwhelming him,” our insider explains.
“2025 was a pivotal year when he started to attend events without his siblings, even standing in for his dad alongside Kate at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2025.”
“He’s already been gradually boarding at Lambrook, so his sense of independence is flourishing, but Eton marks a big step up in responsibilities.”
“The expectations in his role as a future leader have increased dramatically since his 13th, especially with diplomacy, service, military links and charity work, while his parents are still adamant about giving him as normal a teenage life as possible.”
As George prepares for this milestone, King Charles is stepping in to offer personal guidance, no doubt more than aware of the pressures facing a future monarch.
“There’s no doubt George has become the apple of the King’s eye and he’s looking forward to spending some time with him at Balmoral, with some wise parting words before he heads off to Eton,” our insider adds.
“Along with his usual reminders of duty, Charles has a desperate need for George to have a happier and more balanced school experience than he had.”
“He was very pleased with Eton for William and expects updates on George’s progress every week.”
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