We haven’t heard or seen anything from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in a week. That’s not surprising – Prince George and Charlotte’s school is off for a holiday, so the Cambridges apparently returned to Anmer Hall in Norfolk. This happens often enough – there’s a flurry of activity in London (“a flurry” = maybe three events in a week) and then they’ll go dark for two full weeks. But don’t worry, Sebastian Shakespeare at the Daily Mail got a tip that before the Cambridges decamped to Norfolk, Kate took her two oldest kids to the war museum in London.
He was recently so dismayed by Sir David Attenborough’s Extinction documentary, he asked his father to switch off the television. So I’m delighted Prince George has alighted on something far more to his liking: London’s Imperial War Museum.
‘Kate took him and Charlotte there, very much as members of the public,’ my museum mole tells me, adding that George looked on in awe at the military hardware.
Buckingham Palace declines to comment on the visit, but I’m assured that seven-year-old George seemed impressively knowledgeable about World War II.
Perhaps he’s been receiving Zoom tuition from his great-grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was mentioned in dispatches during distinguished service in the Royal Navy.
I’m not going to underline this point too much right now, because I get the feeling that we’re going to see this play out in coming years, but does anyone else get the impression that Kate is already trying to advocate for Charlotte to be included in events which traditionalists will say are “boy activities” or “heir activities”? Charlotte went to the museum too, and maybe she’s just as interested in war history and British history as her brother. Maybe she’s just as interested in conservation, the environment and animals as George. And William and David Attenborough and everybody else are already focusing on George like he’s “the most important” kid. Anyway, I like that Kate included Charlotte and I hope she continues to push back in big and small ways regarding Charlotte and Lou’s inclusion.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, WENN, Avalon Red.
It is odd – there is a cognitive dissonance in the thrust of this article. On the one hand Charles and William want Prince Harry to stand around in suspended animation waiting to do whatever they aren’t bothered by.
Keen to reduce the family to only offspring of Charles, thus removing the excellent and tireless work of the Princess Royal
On the other hand this might indicate that they want their spares to be more included in the BRF.
It is a job soley for heirs and their offspring. The spares had better not choose a life for themselves….
I believe Kate simply wanted to show how normal they are doing half term activities with her children – how Diana she is
I hope all children are treated with compassion and respect no matter their position to the throne or sex. I am glad she brought her too. May they avoid the William/Harry situation in the future though i have my doubts considering who is raising them.
I’m glad she brought her too but taking Charlotte to a museum doesn’t do a lot to change the heir/spare dynamic. I think Kate is aware of the heir/spare issues but only on a surface level and I really think she thinks that Harry should have been happy and should have shut up and played second fiddle to Will (and her) for the rest of his life. I don’t think she has played that through in her head to George, Charlotte and Louis.
Yeah, Kate doesn’t really strike me as a thinker.
I think Kate might not be aware that the rules will always apply. The spare will always be treated poorly for the sake of the heir. That this isn’t her call and as long as they are within that family this is the children’s fate.
George will always be treated special and have no consequences. So of course he will mess up here and there. That’s even true for everyone as we grow into adulthood. And Charlotte will be thrown under the bus to deflect from George. It’s so sad.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too I. That family.
Gender politics will make things worse for Charlotte because the women never get treated well in general by the UK media. If she happens to have a more assertive personality than George it’s doubtful the establishment will protect her very much.
Charlotte could make a brilliant brilliant match/marriage, and thus escape the role of “the spare” and settle into the role of “wife and mother” (of the richest duke of the realm, most probably) – she’s Carole’s granddaughter, gender dynamics might play in her favour.
I mean, she could also become a theoretical physicist, but let’s be real 😉
Good for her re: Charlotte, but my god that line about George receiving zoom tuition from Philip! My eyes are perma stuck to the back of my head! What horses**t!
That was something else, right? And I’m willing to bet Philip didn’t even talk about his experiences with his own sons, let alone the great-grandson.
I think World War II is a pretty normal interest for that age. my son is less than a year older than George, and he’s been super interested in World War II for the past year or so. I was talking about it with a teacher and she said there’s a pretty normal progression as kids start to learn about history – I forget what she said is a common starting point, but she said the Titanic is a pretty normal interest for 6-7 year olds and then World War II usually follows as a general interest (I also forget what she said came next, I just found it interesting bc when we had this convo, my son was super into the Titanic and then like clockwork he clicked into military interests and World War II in particular.)
All that to say that normally I would roll my eyes at lines like George being “impressively knowledgeable about World War II” but in this context I can see it.
Omg my son is OBSESSED with anything Titanic. It started when he was six or seven. I saw an article earlier today that said some company is going to start taking people down to see it, but it’s $125,000 per person, so, no.
Lorelei, my son also was obsessed by the Titanic as a child, and became quite knowledgable. I thought he might grow up to find a career related to it somehow, but he’s become a documentary filmmaker. Looking back, it kind of makes sense, since he was riveted by several documentaries, and was super detail oriented. Best wishes raising your enchanting son, whatever he becomes!
@Nikki* – actually interest in Titanic and being a documentary filmmaker makes total sense to me. The documentaries about the Titanic are fascinating and I can see how they could captivate a kids mind and just kind of settle there, you know?
@lorelei – lol, so apparently it IS a thing! My kid is also getting super into the Lusitania which is a lot less…..well, it’s more adversarial, so to speak.
The best way to insure all her kids have a role to play in the future would’ve been to NOT exile the sussexits. There doesn’t seem like there is a real way to slim the monarchy down now and then expand it to include her spares in the future.
I will give credit to Kate in this area for sure. She knew this would happen from the start and I believe it’s why she sent George to a co-ed school that is quite far away from Kensington palace. She wanted all of her children to attend the same school for as long as they could. Things will get interesting when it comes time to choose boarding schools.
I don’t think they’ll send the kids to boarding school tbh. William apparently didn’t enjoy Eton too much. I can see them keeping the kids at Thomas’ until 13 and then sending them to a local 13+ school (like Westminster or something)
Edit: maybe not Westminster because that’s not co-ed until 16 but my point of a local 13+ school being a possibility
It will be interesting to see, because I think Kate likes the idea of status to a large extent but she seems to draw the line for education (like she does seem to be making education choices based on what works for them, not on tradition.) I wouldn’t be surprised if they went to Marlborough like she did. does that start at 13?
@Becks: Yeah it does so it’s a viable option. Especially as Malborough is co-ed from the start whereas Westminster is only co-ed from age 16
Marlborough is still a boarding school though … the Cambridge kids would be too far away to be day students.
It will definitely be very interesting to see what they choose. Imagine if Prince Philip had taken Prince Charles’ choice into account rather than forcing him up to Scotland.
@Dalloway: don’t know how that slipped out of my mind. But yeah my point still stands about them most likely sending the kids to a London 13+ school. Thomas’ Battersea (their current school) is opening a senior school in 2021 so the kids might stay all the way through
I don’t understand the school breakdown in the UK lol but when I mentioned Marlborough, I did think Kate would send them there to board. I can see her being more comfortable with that since she went there, and the kids would be there together (eventually.)
Why would George & Louis not got to Eton or Harrow?
@Becks: So there’s basically multiple routes. Kids join at age 4 (final year of Pre School in the US) and stay in primary school until age 11 (5th Grade in the US). They then go onto secondary school until age 16 (10th grade in the US). At that point they can choose to stay in the secondary school if they have a “6th form” (final two years) or go to a college or do an apprenticeship.
However if you go the prep school route, you start at the same age (4) but then either a) leave for another school after your child has turned 8 (so they join their new school in 3rd grade) and b) stay until age 13 and then move onto senior school. Ages 4-8 are known as “pre prep” and ages 8-13 are then known as “prep school”. Kids do have to take exams to get into most of these schools called 7+/8+ and 13+. There’s also the 11+ which often goes hand in hand with I said in the first paragraph
You can obviously mix and mingle routes. Some parents in primary school take their children out at age 8 instead of keeping them on and send them to prep school. Some parents with kids in prep-school send their kids to secondary school at 11 instead of 13.
However due to the exam preparation and the high fee costs, parents will either pick the prep route or “regular” route. Not all do but most do.
@Bay: Like I said I don’t think William enjoyed Eton too much and as other people have said, the kids are currently going to a co-ed school which might suggest they aren’t interested in a single sex education for their kids like how William and Harry were educated (single sex from age 4 onwards)
I just hope the Cambridges end the heir/spare dynamic but considering the institution they’re in won’t change, I don’t have much hope
I can’t shake the idea that this is meant to appeal to older vets as part of the Cambridge campaign to replace Harry as the best beloved of service members–Kate is an habitual manipulator, and positioning little George as knowledgeable about old wars is an assurance of FFFK’s suitability. Cynical, maybe.
Oh I don’t know. Kids his age genuinely do seem to be interested in WWII and said vets you’re talking about might be dead by the time George takes the throne
They’ll definitely be dead. It’s about now, with assurance of continuity after they’ve gone–that things will always be this way. That’s how I see this, as an assurance that William is passing down an interest in veterans. I don’t say that George isn’t interested; I do think his interest is limited to superficial, as befits his age, and therefore not so much knowledge as information. I’m not married to the notion, I just wouldn’t put it past Kate.
I think both things can be true – George can be genuinely interested in World War II, and this visit could have been carefully timed and leaked to coincide with November and to appeal to veterans in general.
@becks We will have to see if this interest ever gets mentioned again beyond the two weeks before Remembrance Day. There have been many things George has been said to be interested in that matched whatever thing they were doing at the time.
Remembrance day here in the UK is on the 11th November – this story is designed to tie in with that.
That was my first thought. An interesting museum trip for the kids and of course a PR push for the Do-littles.
^^^ Agreed.
Everything seems to have a military theme all of a sudden.
They really want all remnants of Harry gone. Imagine trying to erase someone like this. Harry will never forgive them. Kate is a vile human being,
She is, but we knew this from the start.
She didn’t care that William had a girlfriend. Or to beg Charles for money. Or to vacation at her uncles drug den. Or to allow a pedo around her children (uncle Gary and uncle Andy). Or to bully anyone she that is better than her. Or waste tax funds because she can. Let her patronage’s close their doors or let go of staff from her lack of interest.
She’s the future Melania. Good luck.
It also didn’t bother her to name her child after a pedo (Louis).
That this story comes out a few days after the cupcakes for the Legion… yeah it’s all part of crafting that image. Also it plays to the nostalgia Britons have over the last War where they were an important player. It’s very imperialistic and they tend to forget the major, major contributions to the war from less powerful countries like Canada, Australia and India because they couldn’t do it on their own, especially before 1941.
And just not into pretending George knows everything about WWII. He’s 7 and doesn’t know any more than any other British child that age. And why not mention about what Charlotte knows? I’m sure she knows some things too. This trying to make the heir special over others is never good and just seems like propaganda.
They (and the Americans) used to delight in putting Canada, Australia et al in the front lines. Lots to be proud of here.
@Nic919 you articulated what I was thinking much better than I could. Especially your first paragraph—ITA.
I am British. Not an imperialist and I at any rate so not forget the magnificent war effort of the other Commonwealth (and ex Commonwealth) countries.
I am British. Not an imperialist and I at any rate do not forget the magnificent war effort of the other Commonwealth (and ex Commonwealth) countries.
I agree
Or maybe 2 kids in a pap shot is better than 1.
Charlotte is all Bill.
In regards to education and WWII, I found this quote that I hope the Cambridge’s and others will think about,
“Education is not memorizing that Hitler killed 6 million Jews
Education is understanding how millions of ordinary Germans were convinced that it was required.
Education is learning how to spot signs of history repeating itself”.
I love this! Thank you for sharing.
The children look well.
Maybe in private she is making sure that Charlotte is included but in public it still seems that George takes precedence. The end of year photoshoots/video and the attenborough promo come to mind.
It remains odd that they never released any first day of school photos when they have done so for every single year before.
I think its odd (and I said this in a follow up comment yesterday after I was accused of lying, LOL) that they didn’t release pictures bc I think it could have done a lot for morale. Look at the cute Cambridge kids, they’re ready to go back, masks in hand, we’re following government guidelines, good luck to all students and parents out there! They have obviously been releasing lots of pics of the kids over the past 6 months (relatively) so it stands out that they missed this PR opportunity.
They probably aren’t physically attending school and are keeping it on the down low. You are correct a photo of them with masks in hand would have been good PR, but they seem to be focusing on promoting themselves and pretending they work instead of boosting morale of others.
I think they’re home schooling.
I’d place a bet in Monaco that they are bringing school to them for the foreseeable future. Not just because of Covid but security must be getting touchy with everything going on between lockdowns and Brexit recession.
Not odd at all. There is a deadly virus going around.
Interesting that you point out it’s half term but .. are the Cambridge kids even at school? We have seen no photos and don’t remember anything being said about them returning after the summer holidays. Schools in England are open and government is so far refusing to close schools again, but are the Cambridge’s going against the govt here (GASP! PROTOCOL! etc.) and the kids are being home schooled?
Since H&M left, the Cambridge folk have been putting their kids in the news more and more. They’re using their kids to prop up the monarchy. I don’t know how well this strategy will work long term. But it’s weird to me the Cambridge folk put this burden on the kids this soon.
Well the parents aren’t going to change/get to work so they have to do something.
That museum is fantastic! I spent an entire afternoon there and still couldn’t get to everything I wanted to. Churchill’s War Rooms are also fascinating. I’m a WW2 history buff-and I could have spent days at both places.
I’m a museum junkie period & those are two I have yet to get to. When we can all travel again….
I know there’s a bigger age gap between Louis and George and Charlotte but why couldn’t he have tagged along?
They should have stuck with two. I don’t know why but I really fear for Louis.
I honestly forget he exists most of the time. I bet he would have had fun.
Nanny Maria has brought Louis to a museum before. I believe it was an art gallery. Louis probably would have enjoyed the war museum as well.
Louis is two for goodness sake. Much too young.
Ticking off all the boxes. This is interesting. The museum is neutral as well as a visit to a museum is neutral. So what is the point? Why not have the children lives out of the newspapers? Marketing, no matter how pristine and profitable cannot replace a useful and necessary product.
Re: schools, it’s Diana’s family that had the Eton legacy, I think. Wasn’t Charles’ generation the first sent to outside school?
The Cambridges’ children will go to Marlborough. William might not have loved Eton but by all accounts Kate loved Marlborough – and didn’t Beatrice and/or Eugenie also go there? But the Cambridges will absolutely send their children to boarding school. The Middletons sent both Pippa and James to boarding school no questions asked. And somehow, Marlborough got dyslexia “I’ve never been good at school” James into Edinburgh, one of Britain’s top universities. In case you had any doubts about how the rich work.
Everything I’ve heard about Harry suggests he had wanted to join the military from a young age. Aside from his learning barriers, I think Harry is best described as a kinesthetic learner. Ever noticed how he picks up information really well when he just does it or experiences it? Harry is incredibly smart in his own way. He’s done a fine job with people and is a pretty skilled diplomat even if he isn’t a book-learned one. The military gave Harry a true education in a way that allowed him to thrive. Most accounts report Harry excelled at Sandhurst. I suspect when/if he didn’t it’s because the royals got in the way.
But yes please tax the rich.
I have been described as a more visual/ hands on learner as well. School was difficult for me but I thrive at my job. Harry is clearly very intelligent. Not everyone is book smart.
If for the only reason other than spite, if Charles ascends soon he will choose their school and I don’t think it will be Marlborough. He knows that is what Kate will want and make that not happen. I suspect he will be more forceful in spending time with the kids and may work towards choosing a school that puts distance from Kate and William to create more positive influences for the kids.
Yes, James got into Edinburgh but he left after a year.
I will also say again, Scotland does not work with the rich throwing money at things. That might be the States; not Scotland.
My daughter’s friend from an ordinary Comprehensive school from a single parent home, his mother being disabled and he with mental health issues, was accepted by both Edinburgh and St Andrew’s. Don’t judge other countries as per your own.
Which he completed and then did his time in the military instead of dropping out to bake cakes and marshmallows in companies losing a couple of hundred of thousands of pounds a year.
I don’t think it was at Eton, but wherever they went before that – Weatherby’s? – where according to Lacey Harry had to repeat a year before starting at Eton, but after that a lot relating to his schoolwork improved. But of course Sandhurst is going to be easier to get into if you are the grandson of the monarch than almost anyone else.
The keenbridges sharing stories about the kids like this will backfire on them in the long run. The tabloids are getting restless after the sussexs left and to feed their trolls theyll eventually go back to when they used to stalk them & fly drones near their homes to the point that billy had to issue legal warnings and petition to make anmar hall a no fly zone.
As for kate taking Charlotte. I don’t think taking her is a reflection to whether she’ll fight for her to get a equal chance like george. How kate acted this far and her submission to billy and the courtiers shows how powerless she is. I hope am wrong. I want the best for Charlotte and Louis
Harry should never, ever, ever have left the Army. It would have given him purpose and a life away from William and the succession. The old Duke of Gloucester was in the Army for a number of years as was the current Duke of Kent. I did read somewhere Harry left because he did not get on with his CO. I hope not.
As for William and Harry maybe the problem was that Diana insisted they be treated the same when they were not the same. William – and I am not a fan – was in the direct line of succession. Harry was not. The heir has always been treated differently – Edward VIII, Elizabeth Ii, Charles. They are different. Not better, just different.
Charlotte and Louis should be encouraged just as much as George in the pursuit of their interests.
George and Charlotte are definitely attending school. There were comments in the British press that due to Covid restrictions, theirs is the only car still allowed to drive into the school.