The Future of the Monarchy Could See Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis Working as a “Collective”

While Prince George, as the oldest of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ three children, may be the heir to the throne, he and younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are seemingly being raised as equals, looking to eliminate “the heir and the spare” dynamic that so plagued William and younger brother Prince Harry. (It affected the latter so much that he titled his memoir Spare because of it.)

It seems the Wales trio are being raised to lead the monarchy in the future as a “collective,” The Daily Express reports. Because of his status as heir, George faces “more pressure” than Charlotte and Louis, according to royal biographer Katie Nicholl; this is “something William and Kate are acutely aware of,” she says. (Apparently the two are currently in a bit of a disagreement surrounding George’s role in his grandfather King Charles’ upcoming Coronation, Marie Claire reported recently.)

“George knows that, like his Papa, he will one day be king,” Nicholl says.

The Sunday Times’ royal editor Roya Nikkhah told True Royalty TV’s “The Royal Beat” that William and Kate want George’s role in the Coronation to be “quite low key,” as the couple are “very conscious that he will return to school on the Tuesday [after the Coronation], and they do not want him to be overwhelmed by the attention. But he may play a smaller official role.”

George won’t be the only one with a role in the Coronation—both Charlotte and Louis will have a role, as well, though likely not as large or substantial as their big brother. All three Wales children will ride in the carriage procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace alongside their parents, directly behind the Gold State Coach carrying King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla. Once at the Palace, the Wales family of five will all take to the balcony, much as they did for the Platinum Jubilee last June, where all three kids were in the carriage procession for Trooping the Colour and then appeared on the balcony afterwards.

Louis’ inclusion in the Coronation is particularly significant, according to The Mirror. Royal expert Angela Mollard says this is an effort to make Louis feel included and not left out, and to avoid any rifts between the siblings. “George needs to be braced and supported by his siblings,” Mollard says. “The whole brand of the Waleses is very much ‘We’re a family, we do it all together. We do not want an offshoot like Harry in the future.’” She continues “It’s going to make sure that Louis has a memory of the Coronation, so when his big brother takes on that role, he and Charlotte are there to support him.”

Though William and Kate seem keen to keep George, Charlotte, and Louis on as even a playing field as possible, the reality is “George’s royal destiny is set in stone. Charlotte’s is more flexible,” as is Louis’. Whereas in previous generations Louis would have leapfrogged his older sister to place right behind George in the line of succession—think Prince Andrew, the third born of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, jumping over older sister Princess Anne in the line of succession behind Charles—that is no more, and Charlotte is the direct “spare” behind George. Though Charlotte could carve out a life outside of the royal family, many claim she is poised to become a successful working royal.