The next generation of British royals are attracting more and more attention. The focus is on Prince George, who is celebrating his eighth birthday.
London – Exuberant joy and inconsolable dejection: the mood of an entire nation was reflected in the face of little Prince George at the final of the European Football Championship.
The third in line to the British throne, who turns eight on July 22, watched the final between England and Italy at London’s Wembley Stadium with his parents Prince William and Duchess Kate (both 39). The result is well known: the encounter started promisingly for England with an early goal and ended with a 2-3 defeat on penalties.
When England took the lead a few minutes after kick-off, George could hardly shut his mouth in amazement and lay in his arms with his father, who was also cheering. Later – when the Italian fans were partying and it would have been time to sleep long ago – the prince was seen with tired, downcast eyes, daddy’s hands comforting his shoulders.
The Telegraph newspaper concluded that George had received a life lesson on what it means to be English: that included joy, sorrow – and the shameful behavior of some fans who illegally entered the stadium and combined parts of central London into one Transformed garbage dump.
Why with a suit and tie?
Does the prince already feel the burden of responsibility that will one day weigh on him? In any case, in a suit and tie, he looked like a miniature version of his father. Many wondered why he was not allowed to wear a “Three Lions” jersey.
The French tennis player and Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli reported in a BBC radio interview shortly before the game that the question had been the subject of an “afternoon tea” with the Cambridges to which she was invited. According to her, William wanted to let his son go in the jersey – but Kate disagreed – and obviously prevailed.
It is known that George is a passionate soccer fan. Much to the chagrin of his father William, he is a supporter of the current Champions League winner and English first division club Chelsea FC. “I told him you can choose any club except Chelsea, so of course he chose Chelsea,” William once told the BBC. So it would not be surprising if George should one day succeed his father not only on the throne but also in the role of president of the English football association FA.
Will an heir to the throne in a football shirt be conceivable by then? There are many indications that the British royal family will change dramatically in the coming decades. It seems uncertain whether George will ever reside in Buckingham Palace like his great-grandmother Elizabeth II (95). Grandpa Prince Charles supposedly wants to open the massive castle permanently to visitors and only use it for ceremonial occasions.
But one thing seems certain: The public interest in George and his siblings Charlotte (6) and Louis (3) should continue to grow. dpa
