Prince George to take on major responsibility once Prince William becomes King
Topics: Prince William, Prince George, Royal Family, King Charles III, UK News
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Topics: Prince William, Prince George, Royal Family, King Charles III, UK News
Whilst rather a morbid thought, the fact that King Charles III took to the throne at the ripe old age of 73 means that royal officials are likely already considering which changes will come into play when his son William takes over in the role.
And as history has long told us, a transition in monarch doesn't just affect the next in line to the throne, but the one after that.
In this case, we're talking about 11-year-old Prince George.
As well as receiving a change in title, the youngster will receive a fresh batch of royal duties when his father becomes king, as William did back in 2022 following the death of his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
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For those in need of a reminder, when the Queen passed at the age of 96, her eldest son, Charles, went from 'Prince Charles', or the 'Prince of Wales', to King Charles III. William, meanwhile, became the 'Prince of Wales' alongside his wife, Kate Middleton, who became Princess of Wales.
The couple did, however, hold onto their previous titles, and can also be referred to as the 'Duke and Duchess of Cornwall'.
Naturally, therefore, when 43-year-old William eventually ascends to the throne, the question begs to be asked whether his eldest son, George, will take on both the 'Prince of Wales', and the 'Duke of Cornwall' title.
After all, these positions aren't without some pretty hefty responsibilities.
The position of the Prince of Wales has been passed down to the King/Queen's heir since the 14th century, meaning it'll likely become part of George's official title immediately upon his grandfather's death.
King Charles himself received the title when he was nine, when the Queen's father, King George VI suddenly died.
According to Buckingham Palace's website, the main role of the Prince is to 'support' the monarch 'as the focal point for national pride, unity and allegiance' as well as 'bringing people together across all sections of society'.
In terms of specifics, however, the Prince of Wales is expected to both welcome dignitaries to the UK, and represent the King and his country at state and ceremonial occasions.
The title also comes with the responsibility of emphasising the importance of service and the voluntary sector - something that came rather naturally to William, who is already patron of a number of charities.
The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales focusses on addressing 'society's greatest challenges', whilst The Earthshot Prize he launched in 2020 recognises ground-breaking solutions to regenerate the planet.
William also founded United for Wildlife in 2014, which is aimed at preventing the trafficking of illegal wildlife products. He is also an advocate for people experiencing homelessness and mental health issues.
It is expected that Prince George will be similarly expected to front both charity and hospitality in his upcoming role as the Prince of Wales.
As we say, ascending to the 'Prince of Wales' position didn't automatically replace William's prior Duke of Cornwall title, and since his father became King in 2022, he has fulfilled the very different roles of both.
As George will come to learn in the not-so far-away future, being the Duke of Cornwall means becoming head of the Duchy of Cornwall estate.
Established by Edward III in 1337 as a means of supporting his son and heir of the same name, the estate owns land in 23 counties, the profits from which are used to fund the official, charitable and private lives of the Duke's family.
At the moment, the Duchy provides an average of £21 million per year, for which the Duke - currently William - pays income tax on all revenue.
The estate must also focus on supporting the local communities of each area.