2024 has already been quite an intense year for the British royal family. Not only is the reported feud with the Duke and Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 not slowing down anytime soon, but three members of the royal family have been diagnosed with cancer, including Catherine, Princess of Wales, better known as Kate Middleton. Along with Kate’s diagnosis, Prince William has had to up the ante with his royal duties. And because of all this topsy-turvy, unprecedented time for the royal family, sources claim that Kate and William are working harder than ever to prepare their eldest son, Prince George, for all the royal duties he has to do as second in line for the throne.

“The family’s been through a lot of changes lately, and it’s naturally led to conversations about George’s future duties. They’re helping him comprehend the situation better,” a source told Life & Style Magazine, explaining that the Prince and Princess of Wales are teaching George “what is and will be expected of him. It’s a daunting prospect, but George is a smart boy. He understands that one day he will be king.”

However, this “daunting” process has William and Kate doing a balancing act. “William is torn. He’s beginning to prepare George, but he still wants his son to have as carefree a childhood as he can… [And] Kate’s great at knowing how to let George be a kid,” the source said, highlighting how while the parents are stressed, they’re trying their best to ensure he’s still able to be a kid.

But, how is George himself dealing with all of this? Well, sources also told the outlet that while he’s great at a lot of it, he finds many royal traditions “silly.” They added, “He already has great manners and knows the proper protocol while in public with dignitaries. But George doesn’t like all the traditional rules — he hates the bowing and formality.”

Prince William, Catherine Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Comic Relief/BBC Children in Need/Comic Relief via Getty Images.

So it seems that while the royal family has been scrambling, they’re trying hard to balance George’s royal and private lives as he undergoes this transformation.

For those who don’t know, William and Kate have been together on and off since 2003. They married in 2011, and have since welcomed three children named George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.