Prince George is embracing his regal duties.
The ten-year-old prince accompanied his father, Prince William, to France on October 14th to lend his support to Wales in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. William serves not only as the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union but also carries the title of the Prince of Wales, traditionally reserved for the heir to the British throne. Young George, next in line for succession, is poised to inherit this distinguished title.
Amidst the unfolding drama on the field, Prince George and Prince William had encounters with individuals connected to the Welsh rugby team. In a display of his perfected royal greeting, Prince George showcased his polished handshake skills. However, what set this moment apart was Prince William’s gracious gesture in allowing his son to lead and be the first to extend his hand in greeting. With aplomb, Prince George approached an individual and initiated the handshake as the introduction commenced. He then stood alongside, beaming, while Prince William initiated the conversation.
A heartwarming video capturing this moment, offering a glimpse of Prince George’s preparation for a life in the public eye, was shared on TikTok by a dedicated royal enthusiast page. The video has since garnered over 3 million views!
In the realm of formal greetings, Kate Middleton is a connoisseur of royal protocol. As the Princess of Wales, she is acutely aware of the importance of ensuring her husband, the future monarch, takes the lead at official royal engagements where they appear together, allowing him to extend the first handshake.
A video that resurfaced on TikTok this past summer revealed Princess Kate and Prince William’s visit to the Foundling Museum, which recounts the history of the 18th-century Foundling Hospital, the UK’s pioneering children’s charity, in 2022. In the clip, Kate takes the initiative in approaching their hosts. However, she engages in light conversation while discreetly waiting for William to make his entrance. Prince William then takes the lead, commencing the handshake ritual with their hosts, with Kate following suit.
Royal biographer Penny Junor has previously remarked, “She has no intention of overshadowing him in any way. I believe Kate is akin to Prince Philip, who supports the Queen. She refrains from outshining William but is not without her own contributions.”
The Prince of Wales reciprocates this sentiment and plays the role of the supportive spouse when the occasion calls for it. At this year’s Wimbledon, Prince William, accompanied by Prince George and Princess Charlotte, joined his wife as she took the lead at the men’s finals. As Kate serves as the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Prince William takes a step back, allowing her to assume the foreground as they interact with staff, volunteers, and players.
While Prince William extends his allegiance to Wales in the realm of rugby, Princess Kate is a devoted fan of England. She journeyed to France the day following her husband and their son to attend England’s quarterfinal match, where she learned of the enjoyable time Prince George had the previous day.
“He made the most of the opportunity,” Princess Kate remarked in an off-camera moment shared by @RoyallyBelle_. As reported by the fan blog, Kate conveyed to rugby luminary Sir Bill Beaumont CBE that her eldest child relished the pizza!
The World Rugby chairman responded, “He certainly savored the pizza.”
Kate responded with a chuckle, saying, “Yes, I was aware of that.”
