Royal Family
Prince George Might Break A Centuries-Old Royal Family Tradition
“Times are moving on.”
Many admire the British monarchy for its adherence to centuries-old traditions, but one historic convention seems likely to end with Prince George, who’s second in line to the throne.
Per the Daily Mail, it’s been standard practice that royal family members serve in the military in some capacity, but the 10-year-old prince will not be expected to do so before being crowned King.
“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,” a source close to the royal family told the British tabloid. “If any of the Wales’s three children had a particular passion then their parents would be happy for them to pursue it.”
Prince George comes from a long line of servicemen and women, including his father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandmother, and great-grandfather. His father, Prince William, trained at the Royal Military Academy for seven years, later joining the RAF Search and Rescue Force. Prince Harry served in Afghanistan, and King Charles III served in the Navy and Royal Air Force.
The late Queen Elizabeth II also worked in the military before acceding to the throne. At age 19, she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) during the Second World War.
“It shows that times are moving on,” historian Hugo Vickers told the Daily Mail. “Maybe the military won’t prove to be the best course for Prince George.”
While George isn’t technically required to serve his country, the youngster appears to have some interest in the armed forces. During the 2023 summer, when visiting the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, he was reportedly excited to raise the ramp on a C-17 transport aircraft.
For now, though, George’s next big endeavors are studying for his exams and starting at his rumored new school, Eton College — his dad’s alma mater. Some traditions are still in tact.
