While Buckingham Palace is busy reassuring people that Kate Middleton is "doing a great job," Prince William is busy preparing his children's future for an eventful year.
In an interview with People magazine, royal biographer Robert Hardman claimed that William wanted to "normalize" the royal duties of his eldest son, Prince George, who is second in line to the throne.
"[Williams and Kate] were not in denial and thought a lot about it," said Hardman, author of "The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy." "It's going to be part of their lives. There's a belief in making it as unobtrusive, normal - if you can call it normal - and as pleasant as possible."
While Hardman explained that preparations are already underway, a Kensington Palace source told him that "George is not expected to begin any royal duties until he is in his 20s."
That's no surprise: Prince George has attended several major events in recent years, including the jubilee celebrations of the late Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III, which were also attended by his younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Activity.
According to Hardman, George's experience at these events was one of William's top priorities. "In his mind, this was not far from his most important job - raising the next king," an unnamed family friend said in the book.
The author also writes that preparations for King Charles to become the British monarch were "as well done for him" as they were for George. "A committee told [the king], 'You're going to do this,'" Hardman wrote. "There was a dinner party attended by the Prime Minister, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and a number of others, and it was decided that Charles would go to Trinity College, Cambridge, and then join the Royal Navy. He was later told, this is what you do."
