Prince George is no ordinary 12-year-old. He'll one day sit on the throne like his father, Prince William, and his grandfather, King Charles. It's no wonder then, that he's been described as a "serious chap" – but, what's he like at home?
According to royal expert Russell Myers, who spoke to PEOPLE for a special profile of the young royal, Prince George is being prepped for his extraordinary future by Prince William and Kate Middleton, who allow him to explore his playful side when he's out of the spotlight.
"He comes across as a serious chap," the insider told the magazine. "To have the world's eyes on you, especially when you’re so young, is demanding." Because of that, William and Kate have been eager to ensure he enjoys the things any other child his age would, such as kicking a football around with his dad or making close friends with his schoolmates.
"They want him to focus on having freedom before giving him any royal titles," added royal author, Robert Lacey, who explained the couple have reframed George's royal future. "I imagine that when William talks to George about things like this, he uses words like 'destiny' rather than 'duty'," Lacey told PEOPLE. "'Duty' has a sense of being trapped; 'destiny' has a sense of choice."
For that reason, while George puts on a so-called "serious" front when in public, a close Palace source told PEOPLE he's more like a typical almost-teenage boy when in the comfort of his own surroundings. "He is the most normal 12-year-old future monarch we have ever had," they said. "And that is a very good thing."
