In July 2024, Prince George celebrated his 11th birthday. His new age has prompted questions about his ascent to the throne before turning 18. Yet, a crucial and intriguing British law outlines what would happen if the young royal were too young to fulfill his duties as king.
With King Charles III undergoing cancer treatment, the monarchy’s stability has become a pressing concern. Prince George is already being prepared for his future role as king, even though he is not yet a teenager.
This is where a lesser-known British law comes into play. It reveals how the monarchy would function if Prince George were deemed too young to fulfill his royal responsibilities.
Prince George’s 11th Birthday
On July 22, 2024, Prince George celebrated his 11th birthday. His parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, shared the celebration on their official Instagram. The post included a striking black-and-white photo of a smiling Prince George. For the caption, they wrote, “Wishing Prince George a very happy 11th birthday today!”
The post quickly garnered attention, with fans flooding the comments to express their amazement at how much Prince George had grown. One enthusiastic commenter wrote, “He’s growing up so fast! I can’t believe it! Happy birthday, George.”
Another follower shared their sentiments, saying, “Can anyone just stop the time, please? He is such a handsome boy. ❤️ Time flies so fast! Thank you for sharing, Your Royal Highnesses. 😍 I hope Prince George has a very special day with the best company. Happy birthday, Prince George. We love you so much.”
The warm wishes continued with another fan commenting, “This picture is so beautiful, he is growing up so fast! I wish the happiest birthday to Prince George. Have the best day! 🎂” A nostalgic admirer added, “He was just a little baby we were waiting for yesterday! Where did the time go? Happy Birthday, Prince George ❤️”
The joyful occasion provided a much-needed lift for the Royal Family and their supporters. The post comes after a series of difficult announcements earlier in the year. In March 2024, Princess Catherine revealed her battle with cancer through an emotional Instagram post.
Prince George and Princess Catherine at the Guinness Six Nations Rugby match between England and Wales on February 26, 2022, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
“It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family. But I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me,” the Princess of Wales shared.
By July, she updated the public on her ongoing chemotherapy treatment. “I am making good progress. But as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” the caption read in part.
Additionally, in February 2024, the Royal Family’s official Instagram account shared that Prince George’s grandfather, King Charles III, had been diagnosed with cancer.
According to the Instagram post, His Majesty was undergoing a hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement. During this procedure, a separate issue of concern was noted, and diagnostic tests identified it as a form of cancer.
Prince George, Princess Catherine, and King Charles III at the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023, in England. | Source: Getty Images
The caption revealed that King Charles III was undergoing regular treatment. “His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer,” the caption concluded.
What Happens If Prince George Becomes King before Turning 18?
In the British monarchy, a young heir like Prince George becoming King raises important questions about governance and royal duties. The Regency Act of 1937 was created to handle situations where the Sovereign was too young or unable to perform royal duties.
This law was introduced after problems during King George V’s illness. At the time, they realized the need for a clear plan for royal authority. According to this Act, if Prince George becomes King before 18, a Regent will be appointed to perform royal duties until he is old enough.
To ensure the monarchy runs smoothly, the Regent takes on all the duties of the Sovereign, acting in their place. This includes signing bills into law, representing the monarchy at official events, and performing other key royal tasks.
The Regent’s role is vital for ensuring the continuity and stability of the monarchy during this period. The Regent is typically the next adult in the line of succession who is eligible and qualified to serve.
To qualify, the individual must be British, of full age, and meet other criteria. If the next in line is a minor or otherwise disqualified, the Regent’s role will be passed to the next eligible person.
For Prince George to be next in line to be king, his father, Prince William, would have to be dead or deemed unfit, as he is next in the line of succession after King Charles III.
If this were to happen before Prince George turned 18, then Prince Harry, Prince William’s younger brother, would be the most likely candidate for Regent.
Princess Catherine holding her daughter Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, and Prince Harry on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour on June 11, 2016, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
This is because Prince George’s younger siblings, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales, who are next in the line of succession for the throne after him, would still be minors, and thus would not qualify for Regent.
Prince Harry would then be considered for the role, as he is next in the line of succession after Prince George and his siblings and meets the criteria of being over 18.
His extensive experience in royal duties also makes him an ideal candidate to guide the young king through his early years. Prince Harry lived outside the UK at the time of writing. However, his eligibility would depend on his legal residence status and other factors outlined in the Regency Act.
Preparing Prince George for His Future as King
In 2023, a palace insider revealed that Prince William and Princess Catherine had already started gently preparing their son for his future role. While they focused on providing him with a normal childhood, they also ensured he understood his eventual royal duties.
Prince George, whose parents called him their “little grape” during his mother’s pregnancy, had his first formal discussion about his future destiny in 2020. Robert Lacey, a royal biographer, noted that this discussion was carefully timed.
The discussion reflected Prince William’s desire to avoid the confusion and pressure he experienced regarding his own royal future. It was reportedly a deliberate and controlled moment, aimed at managing the way Prince George learned about his future.
Children’s wear designer Amaia Arrieta, whose clothes Prince George and his siblings — Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — have worn for years, also offered some insight into the matter.
“I think George has known almost from the beginning. He has always had a more prominent role. There have been many events with his late great-grandmother or great-grandfather when it was just him, and his siblings weren’t there,” Arrieta shared.
In a 2016 interview with the BBC, when Prince George was three, Prince William spoke about whether the toddler knew of his future as king. The Princes of Wales shared that there was a time and place to inform his son about his future royal duties.
Instead, the Prince of Wales was focused on providing Prince George with a secure and stable environment filled with as much love as possible. A palace insider added, “I am sure [William and Catherine] are making George aware in the best way they can. And not making it too burdensome.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales especially wanted to make the transition into royal duties as easy as possible for their eldest son. Instead of it being something scary, the royal couple put a lot of thought into how they would normalize the reality for him.
“[…] There’s a belief to make it as unobtrusive and as normal — if you can call it normal — and as pleasant as possible,” shared royal biographer Robert Hardman.
Before it’s his turn to ascend the throne, Prince George is currently playing his part. He stepped into the royal spotlight in May 2023 at King Charles III’s coronation.
The young prince served as one of his grandfather’s Pages of Honor. During the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, Prince George helped carry the King’s robe. He also took a prominent position on the Buckingham Palace balcony afterward.
Prince William and Princess Catherine understood the pressure this role entailed. After all, Prince George became the youngest future king to play an official role in a coronation. However, they felt their son was ready for the task. “He was terrific,” remarked a close family friend.
Prince George and King Charles III on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Following the coronation, the palace released an official portrait featuring King Charles III and his heirs, Prince William and Prince George. The striking portrait symbolized the monarchy’s future.
However, despite these public moments, Prince William and Princess Catherine prioritized giving their children a normal upbringing. Their family life included outdoor play, kitchen experiments, and visits to the candy store.
“It’s a massive balancing act,” shared a palace insider. The insider believes the Prince and Princess of Wales were “doing the right thing” by protecting Prince George.
The insider added, “He’s getting firsthand experience of what it’s like to be a royal and a monarch and firsthand experience of being a normal boy.” Much of this approach stemmed from Princess Catherine’s own upbringing outside the royal circle.
A source close to the royal household shared that Princess Catherine appreciated the importance of family time. “She wasn’t brought up in that aristocratic setting where you see the children for a short time each day,” they added.
As Prince William and Princess Catherine prepared their son to rule one day, an insider shared that the adorable royal certainly had the “confident” and “outgoing” personality to be the future King of England.
By the time Prince George was 8, sources revealed that he had already “blossomed” and had a broad spectrum of interests. These included gardening, science, nature, photography, cooking, and learning languages.
The young royal was reportedly also interested in anything sports-related. Unlike some kids his age, he took his education very seriously. “He loves school and is a straight-A student,” the insider shared.
The young Prince who looks like his parents, also inherited endearing traits from them. The 11-year-old is reportedly “sensitive” like his mother, but “protective and a confident decision-maker” like his father.
The insider jokingly noted that Prince George was “definitely more outgoing and cheeky” than his parents were at his age.
“Kate and William are beyond proud of George and say they’re lucky to have such a cute and loving son. They try not to overwhelm him with too many details about his future but feel more than confident that he’ll be a great king one day,” the source shared.
Prince George and Prince William at the UEFA EURO 2024 final soccer match between Spain and England on July 14, 2024, in Berlin, Germany. | Source: Getty Images
As Prince George became a year older, his parents guaranteed he enjoyed the richness of a normal childhood. They are also preparing him for future responsibilities, ensuring he will make a great king one day.