Prince George at 12: Royal Protocol Changes and Future Role

Most 12-year-olds are figuring out homework and hobbies—Prince George is also navigating a shift in royal protocol that changes who he can fly with. As the second-in-line turns 12 in July 2025, new travel rules, a first official duty, and a careful parenting strategy come into focus.

Full name: Prince George Alexander Louis of Wales ·
Born: 22 July 2013 ·
Place in line to throne: Second ·
Parents: William and Catherine ·
Current school: Lambrook School, Berkshire ·
Siblings: Princess Charlotte (b. 2015); Prince Louis (b. 2018)

Six key facts, one pattern: Prince George’s life is a blend of ordinary childhood and constitutional preparation that becomes more defined as he reaches age 12.

The pattern: Age 12 acts as a soft marker—not a legal switch—where precedent-based protocols begin to apply, and the palace signals a gradual ramp in public visibility.

What happens to Prince George at age 12?

Why age 12 is a milestone in royal tradition

• Turning 12 reportedly triggers a change in travel protocol: Prince George can no longer fly on the same aircraft as his father, Prince William, under a long-standing succession protection practice (7NEWS Australia). The reasoning is that two direct heirs to the throne should not travel together to guard the line of succession in the event of an accident (7NEWS Australia).
• This practice is described as a royal protocol rather than a legal requirement, and Kensington Palace has never formally confirmed a hard no-fly-together policy (Royal Central).
• Several reports note that Prince William himself stopped flying with his father, then the Prince of Wales, when he turned 12 (7NEWS Australia).

Does Prince George get a new title when he turns 12?

• There is no automatic title change at 12. He currently holds the courtesy title Prince of Wales (as a child of the Prince of Wales) but does not formally become Duke of Cambridge or any other substantive peerage at this age (BBC News).
• Historically, royal heirs at this age have begun attending state events. Prince George has already taken a step in that direction, serving as a page at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on 19 September 2022 and at King Charles III’s coronation on 6 May 2023 (BBC News).

The implication: Age 12 is a transitional marker that reshapes travel logistics and public expectations without altering his formal constitutional status.

What does Prince George’s 12th birthday mean for his future?

How his birthday affects his position in the line of succession

• Turning 12 does not change his succession rank. Prince George remains second in line, behind Prince William and ahead of Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis (BBC News).
• Succession is governed by the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, not by age milestones (Wikipedia).

Possible future roles and responsibilities

• Future roles may include ceremonial appearances, charity patronage, and—over time—state duties. The Palace has not published a formal schedule (People).
• People magazine reports that William and Catherine are preparing George for the throne using what insiders call a “slow game”—gradual exposure rather than early pressure (People).
• The Palace releases an official birthday portrait each year, a tradition that will continue for his 12th birthday (BBC News).

The pattern: The palace’s deliberate pacing gives George time to mature before constitutional expectations harden.

What does Prince George call Camilla?

Royal family titles and step-relationships

• Prince George reportedly calls Queen Camilla “Gaga,” a family nickname that reflects the informal address used within the household (BBC News).
• William and Catherine encourage informal family address—the Wales children refer to their parents as “Mummy” and “Daddy” in private, and the same relaxed approach applies to step-family (Royal Central).

How the Wales children address Queen Camilla

• No official protocol dictates the exact term a royal child must use for a step-grandparent. The “Gaga” nickname was first reported by multiple royal correspondents and has not been denied by the Palace (BBC News).
• The informality is consistent with how other royal families handle blended relationships—function over formality (The Guardian).

What this means: The nickname reveals that even within the formal structure of the monarchy, the Wales family chooses private warmth over protocol—a deliberate contrast to previous generations.

How old is Prince George?

Exact age and date of birth

• Prince George Alexander Louis of Wales was born on 22 July 2013 at St Mary’s Hospital, London (BBC News).
• As of 2025 he is 11, turning 12 on 22 July 2025 (People).

Age at key milestones

• Baptism: 23 October 2013 (aged 3 months) at Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace (BBC News)
• Started school: September 2017 at Thomas’s Battersea (aged 4) (BBC News)
• Moved to Lambrook School: September 2022 (aged 9) (Lambrook School)
• Queen’s funeral page: 19 September 2022 (aged 9) (The Guardian)
• Coronation attendance: 6 May 2023 (aged 9) (BBC News)

The pattern: Measured against his milestones, age 12 is a moment of transition, not a sudden leap into adult responsibilities.

Why do Kate and William eat separately?

Royal mealtime protocol and parenting strategy

• Catherine and William reportedly eat separately from their children as a parenting strategy to maintain bedtime routines and ensure focused family time (Royal Central). The children eat earlier, then the parents dine later in the evening.
• Royal couples often have separate official dinners at formal state banquets due to seating protocol, but the Wales family’s separate eating at home is a personal choice, not a palace rule (Town & Country).

Does this apply to all royal couples?

• No single rule governs all royal households. The Queen and Prince Philip often dined separately at formal events, but the late Queen also hosted family lunches at Sandringham where all ages ate together (BBC News).
• The separate-eating practice for the Wales children is consistent with a modern parenting approach that prioritizes structure and sleep schedules over formality (The Guardian).

The trade-off: Maintaining separate meal times gives the children consistency but means the family rarely sits down to a shared dinner—a choice many working parents will recognize.

Who is the least popular member of the royal family?

Recent public opinion polls

• Annual YouGov surveys consistently rank Prince Andrew as the least popular senior royal, with net favorability around -60 to -70 points in 2024 (YouGov).
• Prince George, by contrast, ranks among the most popular family members with net favorability consistently above +60 (YouGov).

Factors affecting popularity

• Popularity fluctuates with media coverage and personal conduct. Prince Andrew’s association with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is the primary driver of his low ratings (BBC News).
• The younger royals—George, Charlotte, and Louis—benefit from protective media coverage and limited public exposure, which keeps their personal popularity high (YouGov).

The implication: Popularity rankings underscore the monarchy’s generational contrast—the youngest heirs attract approval while scandal drags down senior figures.

What does Kate call Prince Louis?

Family nicknames used by Catherine

• Catherine reportedly uses “Lou Bug” or similar endearments for Prince Louis in private, according to royal reporters who have spoken with palace sources (Royal Central).
• The nickname has not been officially confirmed by the Palace, but it fits a pattern of warm, informal family address consistent with “Gaga” for Camilla and “Mummy” and “Daddy” for parents (BBC News).

How these reflect parenting style

• Royal children use first names within the family—Prince George is “George” to his parents and siblings, not “Prince George” (The Guardian).
• No official confirmation exists for the full list of nicknames, but the pattern strongly indicates that William and Catherine prioritize a normal, affectionate home environment for their children (People).

What this means: The “Lou Bug” and “Gaga” examples show that the Wales household uses nicknames as deliberate bonding tools—recasting the monarchy’s image as approachable and warm, one small name at a time.

“William and Catherine are taking the ‘slow game’ approach—gradual exposure to royal duties, not early pressure.”

— People magazine, citing palace sources (People)

“The age-12 travel rule is precedent-based rather than universally enforced over time.”

— Royal Central analysis (Royal Central)

“Prince George is among the most popular members of the royal family, with net favorability above +60.”

— YouGov royal family tracker (YouGov)

“The public sees a boy growing up in the spotlight, and the palace is careful to protect that image.”

— Royal historian Robert Hardman (BBC News)

Prince George will not become king for decades, but the framework around him is already taking shape. For the palace, the challenge is to balance constitutional preparation with childhood. For the public, the question is how much visibility is appropriate—and for George himself, the path ahead involves navigating a role he did not choose but was born into. The institution of the monarchy must let the “slow game” play out rather than risk overwhelming a 12-year-old before he’s ready.

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