Royal Editor Reveals Prince William and Princess Kate’s “Biggest Worry” For Prince George
Our take
The recent revelation from a royal editor regarding Prince William and Princess Kate’s primary concern for their eldest son, Prince George – not the traditional anxieties surrounding royal life and paparazzi intrusion, but rather a generation equipped with ubiquitous camera phones – speaks to a profound shift in the landscape of celebrity and privacy. It’s a recognition that the old guard’s strategies for managing public image are becoming increasingly obsolete. The relentless documentation of everyday life, amplified by social media, presents a challenge far more pervasive than staged photographs or intrusive press. This echoes a broader cultural phenomenon where the line between public and private has blurred, and the expectation of constant visibility is reshaping norms, even within institutions as traditionally shielded as the British monarchy. Consider, for instance, the subtle ways Prince William and Princess Kate themselves are adapting to this reality, as evidenced by Prince William Shared Princess Kate Loves This Therapeutic Hobby—And It's Under $11, showcasing a relatable and accessible hobby, a deliberate effort to humanize the royal family.
The concern isn’t simply about George’s potential discomfort with being photographed; it’s about the psychological impact of growing up under constant surveillance and the pressures that come with it. Eton College, with its storied history and rigorous academic standards, will undoubtedly provide a structured environment, but it cannot insulate a young man from the pervasive gaze of the digital world. The challenge for William and Kate lies in fostering a sense of groundedness and self-assurance in their son, teaching him to navigate this new reality without sacrificing his privacy or mental well-being. This resonates with the broader conversations around digital parenting and the impact of social media on adolescent development. The family’s reported "hands-on" approach to birthday party planning, detailed in Prince William and Princess Kate’s “Hands-On” Birthday Party Plans Revealed By Fellow School Parents, further suggests a desire to cultivate normalcy and genuine connection amidst the inherent pressures of their roles. It’s a delicate balancing act, requiring a willingness to adapt and prioritize their son’s emotional health above all else.
This situation also has implications for the future of the monarchy itself. While the royal family has historically relied on carefully curated public appearances to maintain a sense of mystique and authority, this approach may no longer be sustainable in an age of instant access and unfiltered information. The ability to connect with the public on a more human level, to demonstrate vulnerability and authenticity, could become a crucial asset. Penélope Cruz's recent PORTER cover, Penélope Cruz Wows for the Pages of PORTER, exemplifies this shift – a move towards showcasing personality and individual style rather than rigid adherence to traditional image-making. For the royal family, this could mean embracing a more transparent and relatable approach, while simultaneously safeguarding George's right to a relatively private upbringing. The traditional boundaries of royal protocol are being tested, and the family’s response will shape the institution’s relevance for generations to come.
Ultimately, the worry surrounding Prince George's entry into adolescence and Eton College highlights a larger reckoning for all those in the public eye. The tools for observation and dissemination are readily available, creating a constant stream of information that impacts perception and potentially, well-being. As technology continues to evolve and the definition of “privacy” shifts, how will future generations navigate the intersection of public life and personal identity? And, most importantly, what strategies will be most effective in protecting the emotional health and individual growth of young people growing up in an increasingly documented world?
Prince George is growing up. The eldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales just turned thirteen, and now that the teenage years have begun, a whole new set of parental worries set in. Prince George will start at Eton College in September, and his newfound independence will bring new challenges for the future King.
“There are parental concerns, naturally, that he will be growing up in a digital age,” Royal editor Rebecca English wrote for the Daily Mail. “The couple have refused to allow their children to have mobile phones, although admit that will change with their eldest at senior school.” Prince William was very clear that his children do not have phones, but Prince George may need a brick phone when he starts at Eton College. These nostalgic brick phones, like a throwback Nokia 3310, have minimal features and are purposely low-tech.
“One thing George won’t be getting [for his thirteenth birthday] is an iPhone,” royal commentator Sarah Hewson told Vanity Fair. “His parents are very hot on phones, and they won’t allow him on social media. They want to protect him from that for as long as they can.”
In November 2025, Prince William told Brazilian TV host Luciano Huck, "I think when George moves on to secondary school, then maybe he might have a phone that has no internet access." The Prince of Wales clarified that its “the internet access I have a problem with. I think children can access too much stuff they don’t need to see online, and so having a phone and text message, the old sort of 'brick phone' as they call them, I think that’s fine.”
While smartphone addiction and social media are a concern for the Prince and Princess of Wales, their main worry for Prince George is a little more complicated. “The couple’s biggest worry now is not the paparazzi but an entire generation armed with camera phones, instantly uploading snaps and videos for ‘clout and likes’,” Rebecca English wrote.
With every smartphone boasting a state-of-the-art camera, anyone can snap a photo or video of Prince George and guarantee it will go viral—and it's impossible to police. “It will be interesting to see how they navigate this challenge given how determined they have always been to ringfence their family from the moment George and his siblings were born.”
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