What would your recommendation be for the young Wales' future?

[Hewlet]

Watching George, Charlotte and Louis earlier, I'm wondering what decisions William and Kate will make about their education and future directions. How does one navigate the transition from close siblings to very different adulthoods, in order to avoid the issues seen with Harry and Andrew?

I'm wondering if it's better to steer them in an close, supportive Royal role like Anne, Edward and Margaret or more private, separate lives such as enjoyed by Peter Phillips and Sarah Chatto.

I think William and Kate are better parents than the Queen and DofE and also Charles and Diana were. William and Harry by all accounts had a very dysfunctional childhood (albeit posh dysfunctional). I also will be surprised if they ship them off to boarding school. I think they’ll have a more well rounded childhood and will be eased into what expected of them.

I really am enjoying watching them grow I have to say!

George is like George VI to look at. Charlotte reminds me of Sarah Chatto and Louis looks the double of Michael Middleton. They are very cute and well behaved clearly happy children. I love watching the dynamic between Charlotte and Louis

I agree - they are better parents and have good boundaries with the media and have learned lessons from the past.

the royal family will change anyway - downsize and the royal children are likely to marry non royals so things will become more normal

They will have a great education.
Choose a way to go, find a partner and have a nice rich life.

Or any or all of them might also be happily single and childfree - although I suppose that’s less of an option for George.

I was thinking about the possible expectation for George to be a good horse rider, attend lots of church services, serve in the military etc.

I agree with the comments about the Wales being much better parents than previous generations. I also would like to think that the Middletons give them plenty of normalcy (as much as can be expected).

This isn’t nearly the same, but I have friends who are farmers, they live in a beautiful farmhouse with 3 surrounding properties that they own, and the husband farms. He’s the oldest of 2 boys. His brother went in the Army and has no kids. He however has a teenage son, and it’s fully understand by the son that he is to be a farmer. Because if he isn’t they can kiss goodbye to everything they have and the home he grew up in. He’s been learning the trade since he was about 10. I asked my friend if he ever expressed an interest in anything else. He of course wants to be a footballer but basically understands he has no choice but to take on the farm, much like his dad had no choice.

Whilst I feel sorry for him I’d also love to be able to give my kids 3 gorgeous homes they will never have to pay a mortgage on and ensure their future is as secure as can be.

I would put Charlotte first in line

It really doesn’t work like that

It does now

It doesn’t but ok

George is the eldest so no, it doesn't work like that now.

It would have if Charlotte was the eldest. But she isn't is she.

I know that but the question was "what would your recommendation be".

I think for all the privilege, it's a tough gig, for George in particular. I think it'll help that there are more than 2 children - there isn't just one, single 'spare' which there was in the case of Harry, and also princess Margaret who also went rogue and was pretty dysfunctional. I know Andrew, although being second born had two younger siblings but they're a lot younger, it was almost like Queen Elizabeth had a second family, so I imagine he felt very much the spare part.

So, I think it will help a lot that all 3 of the young Wales are close in age and hopefully Charlotte won't feel like the 'spare.'

I think Catherine and William are heaps better at parenting ... hopefully William learnt from his parents' mistakes and Catherine it seems has a strong, supportive family so good role models. It feels like the Middletons are very hands on, they haven't been sidelined and made to feel lesser to the royal relatives

I think they'll do well to not send the kids to boarding school or at least not until 6th form which will enable them to have more normality and influence from home.

Scaling down the pomp and ceremony will help. Of course it can't disappear (I mean, why have Royals if you don't have this aspect - it's integral) but I think less extravagance will be important.

Lastly, Catherine and William are far better at having boundaries and managing the media. Diana had an awful relationship with them, playing up to them to try to portray the image she wanted at various times, but also getting very distressed and antagonistic towards them.

Well I'd prefer the first born to inherit the Crown obviously - it's not X Factor!
🙄

Jesus Christ it's not a life or death discussion

Anne was second born, not Andrew. Andrew and Edward came much later, so yes, like a second family.

@entiawest Andrew wasn’t 2nd born, that was Anne…Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward…he was the 2nd SON, and due to primogeniture would have leapfrogged Anne to the throne had anything happened to Charles before William was born

@Jeezitneverends yes, I meant to correct that but got sidetracked! Andrew was second son, second in line to the throne not second born.

I really liked @ItsNotAShopItsAStore 's example of the farm. Much more relatable, and makes you realise that on some level, it's a challenge faced by many individuals, their parents and their siblings.
e.

Who will still be around when they’re in their late 20s. - say 20 years time?

charles and Anne will likely have gone. Andrew doesn’t count, Edward will be 80, his wife too

the Gloucesters and the Kents will be gone

can’t imagine Hazza will be back

so William and (we hope) Catherine will be in the top seats. Then the three kids - and not really anyone else, with the possible exception of Lady Louise and the Edinburghs, who would be scaling back.

So I think there would be room for all three to be working royals , but not their kids.

I really think it is.

There was a MN thread recently about a woman who has a disabled child and her motivator for having a second is that she wanted someone to care for her eldest after she died as she was terrified they’d be left alone in middle age when they’d still need care. She got a really nasty pasting over it but it came from a place of abject fear from the OP and I think more people are born with very set expectations than we realise because circumstances.

I want them to have the time and space and privacy to follow interests and do a university (or similar) course of their choosing and possible a first job that is unrelated to royalling. Maybe in the Armed Forces, but something else if they want. Then, particularly for the younger two, a chance to sort out their own work/life balance. Commercial activities might be problematic (we saw that with Edward and Sophie) but charitable, arts or sports sectors might work, as could scientific research type roles.

It would be great to see at least one have a successful career in the public sector, true “service” but I can’t see it happening. Has any royal managed this? I can only think of Katherine, the Duchess of Kent. (I always wondered where she lived whilst a teacher in Hull).