Princess Charlotte, 10, is growing up, and her parents, Kate Middleton and Prince William, are conscious that if they don’t raise her with a sense of purpose, she could potentially feel like a spare, similar to her uncle Prince Harry.
As Charlotte is second in line to the throne after her elder brother, George, who is Prince William’s heir, the future King and Queen are mindful of her position within the royal hierarchy.
Royal biographer Robert Hardman, the author of The Making of a King, reflected on how the late Queen Elizabeth empathized with individuals in this particular role.
“The late Queen [Elizabeth] was always very conscious of that extraordinary and challenging role of the No. 2,” Hardman told People.
“That’s why she had a particular soft spot for [her sister] Margaret, for [her son] Andrew and Harry. She understood being second place in a strictly hierarchical family and institution has its challenges,” he explained. “Everyone is conscious of that.”
Hardman noted that William is not only “preparing to be King himself but to make the whole royal existence approachable and not scary for all his children.”
As the Prince and Princess of Wales have two younger children besides George – Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, 7 – they are keenly aware of the need to support them thoughtfully.
According to Hardman, they might offer Charlotte the title of Princess Royal, much like her great-aunt Princess Anne.
“It could either be seen as an antiquated title or something steeped in history that they will want to respect,” a royal source explained.
A source further noted that for Prince William and Princess Kate, “Getting the family right is absolutely critical, particularly in terms of what the nation expects of them.”
