I actually feel sad for the lot of them. It's not like they went looking for fame, it was thrust upon them. I, for one, would hate the continuous travel, smile, nod, shake hand, smile, move on.
Prince George's future is all laid out, he has zero incentive and zero opportunity to make something worthwhile by himself. He will never be "just another one of the team", at least, not for long.
Oh, I'm not saying he won't contribute, just that his choices are extremely limited, to a degree I would not want for my son.
Being a part of military actually should be seen as a limitation rather than William going his own way. Since the soldiers pledge their loyalty to the crown it is deemed appropriate that a potential future monarch should serve in the military. They get to choose which bit, and perhaps when, but they probably never had a choice about joining up. Then the Royals only tend to spend a couple of years. Harry is the keenest as he joined infantry. But his fame brought him back from action early because he was a prized target.
Also Wikipedia now says Harry's now in project management: "On 17 January 2014, the Ministry of Defence announced that Harry had completed his attachment to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps and will take up a staff officer role at the position of SO3 (Defence Engagement) in HQ London District. His responsibilities will include helping to co-ordinate significant projects and commemorative events involving the Army in London."
I would expect this is not what he would have chosen had he been born Harry Smith.
If he really didn't like it he could give it up - we've had abdications before. It seems like a pretty sweet gig to me - a chance to see the world, talk to lots of different people, and the work's not exactly strenuous.
J. Michael Straczynski wrote an episode of B5 which demonstrated the feeling of someone who was in this position, the feeling of helplessness as you really don't get to make a choice, they were all made for you, "The Coming of Shadows"
The quote that stands out from the episode, "It has occurred to me recently that I have never chosen anything. I was born into a role that was prepared for me. I did everything I was asked to do because it never occurred to me to choose otherwise. And now, at the end of my life, I wonder what might have been. "
He can stop, but that doesn't mean that he necessarily controls the succession process afterwards. That is, if you meant by "stop", that he could quit as monarch.
On the positive side, Prince George is going to have access to incredible wealth and a platform that he can use to influence people. If he wanted to stay in the public sphere he could have a very significant impact.
Comments
I actually feel sad for the lot of them. It's not like they went looking for fame, it was thrust upon them. I, for one, would hate the continuous travel, smile, nod, shake hand, smile, move on.
Prince George's future is all laid out, he has zero incentive and zero opportunity to make something worthwhile by himself. He will never be "just another one of the team", at least, not for long.
I wouldn't wish Prince George's life for my sons.
Just like his useless father who's only contribution to society has been to, er, pilot a search and rescue helicopter...
Oh, I'm not saying he won't contribute, just that his choices are extremely limited, to a degree I would not want for my son.
Being a part of military actually should be seen as a limitation rather than William going his own way. Since the soldiers pledge their loyalty to the crown it is deemed appropriate that a potential future monarch should serve in the military. They get to choose which bit, and perhaps when, but they probably never had a choice about joining up. Then the Royals only tend to spend a couple of years. Harry is the keenest as he joined infantry. But his fame brought him back from action early because he was a prized target.
Also Wikipedia now says Harry's now in project management: "On 17 January 2014, the Ministry of Defence announced that Harry had completed his attachment to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps and will take up a staff officer role at the position of SO3 (Defence Engagement) in HQ London District. His responsibilities will include helping to co-ordinate significant projects and commemorative events involving the Army in London."
I would expect this is not what he would have chosen had he been born Harry Smith.
Not to say anything about anything else that he's done, but is search and rescue not a worthwhile thing to do then?
If he really didn't like it he could give it up - we've had abdications before. It seems like a pretty sweet gig to me - a chance to see the world, talk to lots of different people, and the work's not exactly strenuous.
J. Michael Straczynski wrote an episode of B5 which demonstrated the feeling of someone who was in this position, the feeling of helplessness as you really don't get to make a choice, they were all made for you, "The Coming of Shadows"
The quote that stands out from the episode, "It has occurred to me recently that I have never chosen anything. I was born into a role that was prepared for me. I did everything I was asked to do because it never occurred to me to choose otherwise. And now, at the end of my life, I wonder what might have been. "
Except he always can stop it if he wants to.
You can't stop being "the guy who decided not to be the King of England"
He can stop, but that doesn't mean that he necessarily controls the succession process afterwards. That is, if you meant by "stop", that he could quit as monarch.
On the positive side, Prince George is going to have access to incredible wealth and a platform that he can use to influence people. If he wanted to stay in the public sphere he could have a very significant impact.