Is the coronation pressure too much for young Prince George?

Prince William and Princess Kate are reportedly debating whether their son and second-in-line to the throne, nine-year-old Prince George, is ready to take on an important role in the upcoming coronation.

With Prince George being offered a more prominent role in the coronation than his younger brother and sister, William and Kate think it may be too much pressure for the young boy — and the argument behind palace walls continues.

King Charles III’s royal coronation will take place May 6 at the Westminster Abbey in London.

Too much responsibility for George?

Royal commentator Tom Quinn says the Prince and Princess of Wales are reportedly “worried” it will be too overwhelming for Prince George to have a significant role in the very public event, and are actively discussing how it would affect public opinion if they pulled him out of his duties.

“I’ve heard from my contacts that there is a bit of an argument going on about whether George should play a more formal role,” the ‘Gilded Youth’ author told Express. “I’ve heard that Kate and William are worried that it will be too much for him.”

Fear of history repeating itself

Quinn further explained that it wasn’t just Prince George’s age that was an issue, but also previous choices made by Buckingham Palace — such as Prince William and Prince Harry’s upbringing in the public eye, and its impact on them.

Princess Diana’s funeral was the prime example of that, as the then young boys were under public scrutiny while grieving their mother.

“It’s almost an echo of the way William and Harry were sometimes made to attend formal occasions that they shouldn’t have been made to attend,” Quinn continued. “Most famously, the funeral of their mother, and walking behind her coffin at their age.”

“A lot of people criticized that, and said that it was a horrible thing to make two boys that young, and especially Harry, do. So I think people are remembering this and thinking, ‘Well hang on a minute, if George is some sort of a pageboy, or has a similar role at the Coronation, is that going back too far towards the traditional roles?’”

“So I’ve heard that there is a debate going on quite fiercely at the moment about how to do that. And, as far as I’ve heard, it hasn’t been decided yet.”

Quinn added that regardless of the outcome of the debate, he believes Prince George will have a role in the coronation, “but it won’t be too prominent”.