Prince George takes the stage

Prince George came along with his father, Prince William, with a brightly striped jumper and a smile to match. He was going to meet homeless people from The Passage, a homeless shelter at St Vincent’s Centre in Victoria, central London

George is now twelve and beginning to join his dad on carefully chosen engagements. Homelessness has been a very important issue to William. In 1993 his late mother, Princess Diana, introduced him to homeless people, very different from those he was used to. She wanted William to acknowledge that not everyone was rich like they were and didn’t have enough food to eat or somewhere to sleep.

He was only eleven but Diana wanted him to be gently trained for when the time came for him to succeed to the throne.

It was a very important visit for George.

He had practised when he was eleven, when he attended a special VE Day tea party last May, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe.

It took place at Buckingham Palace and he accompanied his parents Prince William and Princess Catherine. The public was told George particularly enjoyed hearing World War Two stories from veterans themselves and learning about their service.

Both visits have been quiet events but they are significant steps in George’s future involvement in royal duties.

George seemed delighted to help prepare a Christmas lunch with his father. When he was six he stirred a Christmas pudding with such energy that the late Queen Elizabeth quickly got out of the way.

.For this event William prepared the sprouts, while George concentrated on the Yorkshire puddings.

.They then both baked cupcakes, helped to decorate a donated Christmas tree and laid the table. The Premier League football team Aston Villa, whom William supports, provided crackers. For homeless people the Christmas tree and the Christmas lunch are much looked forward to as they have nowhere of their own to go to.

Apart from the cooking George was excited by signing a visitors’ book which contained Diana’s signature four years before she died. When George saw his grandmother’s name he said, “Wow!”

The fact that the event went so smoothly is evidence of how well Catherine and William are planning their children’s introduction to their royal duties.

George and Charlotte began to get involved with volunteer activities from the age of about five. From 2019 William began talking to them about poverty and people who lived on the street. At five Princess Charlotte helped her parents deliver cakes to the needy, while during the Covid-19 lockdowns the children helped deliver home-cooked meals to elderly neighbours.

George, Charlotte and later Prince Louis have all been told it’s important to give, not just take. As a result, they can cope with some things that might be quite a shock to other children.

One member of the royal family was in no doubt that Prince William’s children would soon be taking centre stage.

When I was talking to their uncle Harry about the biography I was writing, Harry: Conversations with the Prince he told me he was in a rush to make his mark and was treating life as a race.

He explained: “I want to make something of my life. I now feel there is just a smallish window when people are interested in me before Prince George and Princess Charlotte take over and I’ve got to make the most of it.” Sadly, since his departure for California he doesn’t seem to have done so.