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'There's a choice': Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would let Prince George leave royal life, says child psychologist

Watch the full interview with royal biographer Andrew Morton, on episode three of Yahoo UK’s brand new show ‘The Royal Box’ from Friday 6 July.

Prince George will have a choice in whether he becomes king or not.

That’s according to leading child psychologist Emma Kenny, who spoke to Yahoo UK about how the pressure of being a Windsor is affecting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s oldest son.

George, who turns five on July 22, will be “brought up with a dialogue” about his birth right, says Kenny. Despite being third-in-line to the throne, Kenny believes he’ll be able to decide whether royal life is for him.

And that’s all thanks to his progressive parents, she says.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will let Prince George decide his future, says leading child psychologist Emma Kenny [Photo: Getty]
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will let Prince George decide his future, says leading child psychologist Emma Kenny [Photo: Getty]

“I think [William and Kate] are the kind of parents that will say, ‘If this isn’t for you, then there’s a choice.’ And I genuinely believe that,” Kenny tells Kate Thornton, during episode three of ‘The Royal Box’.

“I’m sure he will do down the traditional route [and become king] but I do think they would never take away his autonomy,” Kenny continues.

Click below to watch the full third episode of The Royal Box:

“There has been a whole generation within the royals at this age, now, the younger generation, that’s born of autonomy and choice. And whilst some accept it, I don’t think that necessarily will be the case for ever. I think tradition has changed.”

Prince George, pictured during a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2014, has been in the spotlight since birth and been photographed by the world’s media numerous times [Photo: Getty]
Prince George, pictured during a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2014, has been in the spotlight since birth and been photographed by the world’s media numerous times [Photo: Getty]

Royal historian, and fellow ‘The Royal Box’ guest Kate Williams agrees. She predicts we could see a change in careers for the younger royals.

“We might see George becoming a doctor and training as a junior doctor and then, when he’s 40 or so, moving to become the heir-in-waiting,” she says.

“We know how much Prince William loved doing his job as a search and rescue pilot and Prince Harry loved being army (unfortunately he was exposed by the Australian magazine and had to come back from the theatre of war, which he is always devastated about).”

Princes William and Harry have both had ‘real jobs’: William was a search and rescue pilot and Harry rose to the rank of Captain in the army [Photos: PA]
Princes William and Harry have both had ‘real jobs’: William was a search and rescue pilot and Harry rose to the rank of Captain in the army [Photos: PA]

Williams adds that the public “loves to see” members of the royal family working. Both Prince William and Prince Harry have been labelled “work-shy” by the public and media in the past, due to their seeming lack of royal engagements.

With that in mind, in years to come, holding down a ‘real job’ in addition to carrying out their assigned royal duties could well make George, Charlotte and Louis more popular with the public.

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