His parents have tried to give him as normal an upbringing as possible but Prince George appears to be taking his first big steps in training for his life as a future King.
Even before he becomes George VII, he will have a vital role to play in a slimmed-down monarchy in which Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, will be supported by a much smaller cast of working royals than exists now.
William, 43, wants what is already an increasingly social activist monarchy to change Britain for the better while staying above party politics.
And, while George will inevitably be left to develop his own approach inside the Firm – the royals are all about authenticity – his parents appear to have stepped up their efforts to introduce him to the causes close to their hearts in the past few months.
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