At just 12 years old, Prince George is already aware of the royal destiny that awaits him. The young prince, second in line to the throne after his father Prince William, has reportedly shown he understands the role he will one day inherit.

Royal author Katie Nicholl revealed in her 2022 book The New Royals that William and Kate have been careful to raise their children — particularly George — with an understanding of who they are, while not overburdening them with duty too soon. According to Nicholl, George once had a sharp response to his friends during a playground dispute, declaring: “My dad will be king so you better watch out.”

The exact timing of George’s remark is unclear, but it reflects the awareness instilled in him by his parents. Currently, he, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, all attend Lambrook School in Berkshire.

How George learned his fate

Royal biographer Robert Lacey wrote in Battle of Brothers that George learned of his future as king around his seventh birthday in 2020. William and Kate reportedly delayed the conversation to give him as normal a childhood as possible before introducing the weight of his role.

Lacey explained that William’s goal as a father was to balance tradition with modernity: “to give his son a normal family upbringing,” while preparing him for the life of service and duty ahead.

Education plans and the future

George is expected to finish one more year at Lambrook before moving on to the next stage of his education. Reports suggest Eton College — where Prince William studied as a teenager — is the frontrunner for George’s next school, though no official announcement has been made.

If confirmed, George would begin at Eton in September 2026. Princess Charlotte, however, would not be able to join him there as it remains an all-boys school, though it is possible Prince Louis could follow his brother in the future.