Time seems to fly when observing the lives of the British Royal Family, and none more so than when watching the youngest members of the clan.

It feels like just yesterday that Prince George made his debut in front of the doors of St. Mary’s Hospital.

Now, as the second in line to the throne, George is rapidly growing up and beginning to carve out his own path as a royal.

The young prince has already made several public appearances alongside his parents, Prince William and Princess Catherine, at various royal events and sports games.

These moments showcase a balance between his royal duties and more casual, laid-back activities. Each member of the Royal Family understands their role and responsibilities from a young age, and George is no exception. His preparation for his future role as king is already well underway.

Princess Catherine has been instrumental in helping her eldest child understand his future responsibilities, while shielding him from the full weight of his future role. The Royal Family has rallied around to support George as he navigates his unique path. Part of his preparation involves a particularly somber aspect of royal protocol: planning his own funeral when he turns 16. This tradition, revealed by a royal insider, requires all senior royals to help plan their funerals to ensure all details are considered, from the guest list to the style of music.

Historically, both Prince William and Prince Harry undertook this responsibility in 2000. A spokesman for St. James’s Palace at the time confirmed that plans had been made for various eventualities, reflecting the gravity of such preparations. Similarly, the late Prince Philip meticulously planned his funeral for almost 18 years, overseeing details from the design of his Land Rover Defender hearse to the procession from Windsor Castle.

In addition to funeral planning, another unique royal custom is that heirs to the throne are generally prohibited from traveling together by air from the age of 12. This precaution ensures the continuity of the royal line in case of unforeseen circumstances. Although this rule can be relaxed with the Monarch’s permission, it is usually adhered to strictly.

As Prince William and Princess Catherine introduce their children to the public eye, they are taking a measured approach. Prince George has been seen attending soccer games with his father, while Princess Charlotte joined her mother at Wimbledon. Prince Louis, still quite young, remains largely out of the limelight but makes at least one annual appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Prince William, drawing on his own experiences growing up, is guiding George with a careful approach. Unlike his own childhood, where he and Prince Harry were acutely aware of their differing futures and even argued about it, William aims to delay George’s full realization of his future role. “There will be a time and a place to bring George up to understand how he fits into the world,” William has said. “We are very normal.” The aim is to provide George with as much normalcy as possible before fully immersing him in his royal responsibilities.

As George matures, he will gradually come to understand his role in public life and what it entails. For now, his parents are focused on providing him with a stable and as-normal-as-possible upbringing, ensuring that when the time comes for him to embrace his future as king, he will be ready.