Prince George is growing up differently from his classmates, as the British heir to the throne. The eleven-year-old must adhere to protocols and rules that have been in place for decades within the monarchy. One such rule dictates that George, at the tender age of sixteen, must start planning his own funeral.
Prince George, 11, is quite aware of his role as the British heir. From a young age, royals are made conscious of their position – and the burdens that come with it. While Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, strives to give her three children as normal and grounded a childhood as possible, George, in particular, must be prepared for his destiny. This preparation includes public engagements, dealing with the press, and royal protocols that must be followed. One such protocol requires the eleven-year-old to begin planning his own funeral in five years.
Prince George: Facing His Mortality at 16
Royal author Christopher Andersen explained to the “Mirror” that after Prince George’s 16th birthday in 2029, he will have to confront the reality of his own death. According to the expert, every member of the British royal family around this age is asked to participate in planning their own funeral. Prince George will thus have the opportunity to decide what music he wants at his memorial service, who should be present, and how the burial should be conducted.
It’s an absurd task for a sixteen-year-old. However, the palace seems to want to leave nothing to chance. Too often in the history of the British royal family, a member has died suddenly – and too young. The tragic fate of Princess Diana, who died at 36, serves as a stark reminder. Prince William, 42, and Prince Harry, 39, also had to make preparations for their funerals during their teenage years, just a few years after walking behind their mother’s coffin. In 2000, a spokesperson for St. James’s Palace revealed that William and Harry had to “make plans for a range of contingencies.” In five years, George will be required to take on this task as well.
Early Preparation for Prince George’s Future
Planning his funeral isn’t the only macabre rule that George must follow. Starting in 2025, another rule will apply to Prince William’s son. Once George turns twelve, he will no longer be allowed to travel on the same plane as his father. This monarchy protocol is in place to ensure the security of the line of succession. In the event of a possible accident, Britain would not lose both heirs.
As pilot Graham Laurie once described, this rule applied to Prince William starting from his 12th birthday. Laurie completed over 2000 flights in 20 years as King Charles’s personal pilot. He was also the one who transported Princess Diana’s body back to London after her fatal accident.
Graham Laurie recalls that there is an exception to this special flight rule for Charles, William, and George. The monarch – in George’s case, his grandfather King Charles – can provide written consent allowing both William and his son to travel on the same plane. This rule, however, only applies to William and Kate’s eldest son. Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, are allowed to travel with their father at any time.
Such rules highlight the hierarchies and the different statuses of individual members of the royal family. It’s no coincidence that Prince Harry titled his memoir “Spare.” There’s “the heir and the spare” – the heir and his backup. For Prince George, who will one day succeed his father as the head of Great Britain, there are regulations that children his age never have to consider.
