What The Future Holds For The Royal Kids
Since the birth of Prince George in 2013 and Princess Charlotte in 2015, the eyes of the world have been fixed on this pair of British royal siblings. Their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are determined to keep their children's lives as normal as possible. What does the future hold for this regally adorable duo? Let's take a look at some of the possibilities.
The titles they will inherit
At the time of this writing, the royal children are known as HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) Prince George and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. The title "Duke of Cambridge" was extinct for nearly a century before it was bestowed on the children's father, Prince William, in 2011. As the title is inheritable, it is likely that Prince George will himself become the Duke of Cambridge one day, with the Duchess of Cambridge title reserved for his future wife. George and Charlotte may also become the Prince and Princess of Wales someday when their grandfather, Prince Charles, becomes King of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. George himself will eventually inherit the throne.
Additionally, when Princess Charlotte's father becomes king, she will likely be granted the title of Princess Royal, which is typically reserved for the eldest daughter of the reigning monarch. That title is granted for life, and only one person can hold the title at a time. Charlotte's great-aunt Anne is the current Princess Royal, but it seems likely the title will be passed on to the daughter of William and Kate by the time her father becomes King.
Their place in the succession
Prince George stands third in line to the throne of England, after his grandfather Prince Charles (1st), and his father Prince William (2nd). When Princess Charlotte was born, she became fourth in line, bumping her uncle, Prince Harry, down one slot in the pecking order. In accordance with the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013, Charlotte will always remain in that spot. Royal female children now inherit on the same terms as their brothers, which means if William and Kate have another son, he will not overtake his big sister in the line of succession. The change in laws was not retroactive, which means Princess Anne (eldest daughter of Queen Elizabeth II) still remains behind her younger brothers, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, in the line of succession. However, the new rule does open up the possibility that Charlotte might become Queen of England in her own right one day, particularly if her brother George does not have children of his own.
Their royal upbringing
Will and Kate are determined to give their children as normal a childhood as possible—going so great lengths to stop the paparazzi from hounding the kids for photographs. In an interview with BBC News, Prince William emphasized the family's dedication to its goal of normalcy. "As far as we're concerned, within our family unit we are a normal family," he said of his wife and two children. "I love my children the same way a father does, and I hope George loves me the same way a son does his father." That dedication extends to the royal duties that George and Charlotte will one day be expected to carry out on behalf of the crown. "There will be a time and a place to bring George up and understand how he fits into the world, but right now, it's just a case of keeping a secure, stable environment around him and showing him as much love as I can as a father."
With their grandmother, Diana, dubbed as the "people's princess," and their mother, Kate, herself a commoner, we're sure that this down-to-earth upbringing will be of great benefit to the royal siblings as they grow up in the public eye.
Their traditional schooling
Proud parents William and Kate have chosen a Montessori education for Prince George, who started his preschool career at the Westacre Montessori School in Norfolk, England in January 2016. According to People, the royal toddler will attend the nursery school a few times a week. Prince William also attended a Montessori school as a child. The Montessori method is named after Italian doctor and educator Maria Montessori, and encourages creativity, mixed-age learning, and freedom of thought, reported People.
While Princess Charlotte is not yet ready for preschool, it seems likely she will follow in her big brother's footsteps at Westacre—unless the family moves before then. The Westacre school is conveniently located to the Duke and Duchess' home at Anmer Hall. William works locally as a helicopter pilot for the East Anglia Air Ambulance service. If and when his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, passes the throne on to Prince Charles, William and his wife Kate would likely relocate in order to take up their new stations as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. If they move to Kensington Palace, Prince William's old prep school may be in the running as the royal classroom-to-be.
What they will look like
Given the looks of their parents, we're confident that George and Charlotte will grow up gorgeous—but now we don't have to guess. Scientists at the University of Bradford have used software developed for police investigations to generate age progression photos of both Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The software takes facial features from the children and combines it with visual cues from their parents and other relatives, then runs it through an algorithm designed to determine what the kids will look like up to 60 years down the road. Only time will tell how true-to-life the scientists' images will be, but the software is reportedly about 80% accurate.
Their effect on popular culture
Prince George and Princess Charlotte have become darlings of the media and the world at large, despite their parent's attempts to shelter them from the paparazzi. Following in the footsteps of their mother and grandmother, George and Charlotte are already trendsetters. Termed the "royal baby effect" or the "Prince George effect," news about the royal children usually makes a huge impact in pop culture and retail business.
Their mother, Kate Middleton, is known for her classy style choices, which extend to George and Charlotte's outfits. Clothing and other products used by the siblings fly off the shelves and spawn dozens of knockoffs within days. In spring 2016, a picture was published of George in his pajamas and bathrobe meeting President Barack Obama. The bathrobe—which cost approximately $50—sold out within minutes. As the children grow up and reach adolescence, their influence on fashion and other popular trends will only intensify.