Princess Catherine and Prince William are prominent figures in the British royal family. While their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have grown up in the public eye, the trio has truly won the hearts of many around the world. But royal life has not always been like that. When Prince George, the eldest son of The Prince and Princess of Wales, becomes king, it will be a big break from royal tradition.

According to experts, the young prince, now 10 years old, is expected to follow his grandfather’s path of creating a less formal and modern monarchy. However, if he decides not to serve in the military, he might miss out on an important sense of discipline. It’s mentioned that the royal family is already becoming more streamlined and less formal, and George will likely continue this trend.

A royal insider commented, noting that George being the first future king with the commoner as his mother is a huge change from tradition. Meanwhile, another commentator said the British monarchy in the future will be more like those in mainland Europe. He explained that King Charles is trying to transition the monarchy from its empire roots to fit the current small island nation. By the time George is king, the monarchy will look very different.

Last year, it was reported that George might not be required to serve in the military before becoming king, which would break tradition that’s lasted for centuries. This is significant because the monarch is the commander-in-chief of Britain’s armed forces. While George’s father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandmother, and great-grandfather all served in the military following a long-standing tradition, it’s believed military service is important for Prince George because it provides a sense of discipline and helps royals understand their rank and not become too self-important. Royals joining the armed forces, even for short periods, add crucial legitimacy to the monarchy.

We’ll have to wait for the young prince to inherit the throne to see how modern the British monarchy will become. It seems that everything will depend on his decision to skip military service, a time-honored tradition in the royal family.

King Charles’s coronation back in May provided us with many sweet family moments between Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as a previously unseen point in the service had royal fans talking after they spotted how proud Charlotte was of her eldest brother in his role of page of honor. Prince George was one of four young boys chosen to carry the king’s robe in and out of Westminster Abbey and successfully managed to do this without putting a foot wrong. As seen in the clips, the young royal followed behind his grandfather during the procession out of the Abbey, and as they passed the Wales family, his younger sister couldn’t contain her pride and excitement. While Prince George remained focused and looked straight ahead, the proud princess glanced up at her father, Prince William, as he continued to sing of him.

The close bond between Prince George and Princess Catherine has been noted many times, with many comparing their sibling relationship to that of King Charles and Princess Anne. The similarities between the two sets of royal siblings have not gone unnoticed by royal fans on social media. One previously wrote, “Charlotte seems to have Anne’s moxie as well and even at the age of eight, like Anne, Charlotte appears to be more feisty and strong-willed. I am sure she doesn’t suffer fools. George appears more thoughtful and contemplative like Charles.”

While Prince George remained focused and looked straight ahead, the proud princess glanced up at her dad Prince William as he continued to sing a hymn. The sweet look was one of the latest moments which prove the pair’s close bond, with former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond telling that “George and Charlotte are enjoying a much more normal upbringing with hands-on parenting from both William and Catherine.