In May, Prince George will be making history at his grandfather King Charles’ coronation. The eldest son of Kate Middleton and Prince William will be serving as a Page of Honor in the crowning ceremony, according to an announcement from Buckingham Palace last week. The 9-year-old prince is technically second in line to the throne behind his father and this will be the first time in modern royal history that anyone in line to the throne serves during a coronation in this way.
“Bringing George in also sends all the right symbolism for the future and gives him something he will always remember,” royal author Hugo Vickers told The Times.
At the last coronation of King Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth in 1953, Charles watched during certain moments of the service, but did not participate. That will probably be the case this time for his other grandchildren, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. George is one of four pages who will form part of the procession at Westminster Abbey during the event. The other pages listed are Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, Nicholas Barclay, and Ralph Tollemache.
A royal source told People that the Prince and Princess of Wales are “cognizant that he is old enough to understand what’s going on,” but are trying to prepare him for returning to normalcy afterwards.
“His parents are very excited and delighted that he is a page,” said a rep for the couple. “It’s something that his parents have thought long and hard about and are very much looking forward to — and I’m sure George is too.”
Queen Consort Camilla’ also has official Pages, which include her grandchildren Freddy Parker Bowles, Gus Lopes, Louis Lopes, and her great-nephew Arthur Elliot. It’s expected that Charles’ siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward will attend. His youngest son Prince Harry has been invited with his wife Meghan Markle, but it’s unclear if they’ll accept the invite. Their children Archie and Lilibet have not been included in the ceremony.
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.
