Prince George is officially learning the royal ropes from Prince William and Kate Middleton.
On May 5, Prince George, 11, joined his parents at the Buckingham Palace tea party King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted for veterans and members of the World War II generation. George’s surprise appearance marked a major milestone as his first time appearing at such a formal function.
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ eldest son follows his father William as second in line to the throne. At the tea party, he mirrored his dad’s role, sitting beside him just as he often does at public events (including Aston Villa soccer matches!). Known for closely following Prince William’s lead, George was once again by his father’s side at the formal occasion.
William and George engaged with guests, and photographers captured a moment where both leaned in attentively, clearly listening to someone’s story.
Prince George offered a respectful handshake to one man, while Princess Kate smiled as they all shared a conversation.
It was significant to see Prince George at the tea party with his parents, marking a rare solo moment with them at a royal event. This appearance came just days after his first public outing of the year, when he joined his siblings, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, at the military procession near Buckingham Palace, where they later watched the flypast from the balcony.
His appearance at the tea exemplifies the gradual way William and Kate are introducing their children to the royal duties they are expected to inherit one day, which a palace insider previously told PEOPLE is paramount to the couple.
“It’s a massive balancing act,” a palace insider previously told PEOPLE about the Prince and Princess of Wales’ approach to raising George as future king.
“William and Kate are doing the right thing, protecting him so he can have as normal a childhood as possible, but he’s also dipping into duties as a future monarch,” the insider said. “He’s getting firsthand experience of what it’s like to be a royal and a monarch and firsthand experience of being a normal boy.”
George memorably stepped into the spotlight during his grandfather King Charles’ May 2023 coronation, where he acted as a Page of Honor at the crowning ceremony.
“His parents are very excited and delighted that he is a page,” a spokesperson for the Prince and Princess of Wales told PEOPLE at the time. “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.”
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all had a special day off from school on Monday, where they joined their mom, dad and several other members of the royal family for the inaugural celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day.
The palace previously announced that the royals would honor the landmark anniversary with a series of meaningful events during the week running up to the banner anniversary on Thursday, May 8, and the pageantry began on Monday with the procession, flypast and tea party.
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On May 8, 1945, Queen Elizabeth’s father King George VI (who Prince George may be named after) announced via radio that World War II was over in Europe with victory by the Allied Powers.
On May 8 anniversary later this week, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate and more working royals are expected to attend a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in a service commemorating the sacrifice of the World War II generation.
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