Kate Middleton and Prince William’s row with King Charles over Prince George

Prince William and Kate Middleton have a very close bond with King Charles. We have been treated to glimpses of their special relationship on their rare public appearances together, including a visit to a veterans rehabilitation centre, where Kate was photographed in fits of giggles as she talked to her father-in-law.

According to reports, however, “a bit of an argument” erupted within the royal family last year, ahead of the royal Coronation. Commentator Tom Quinn has claimed that William and Kate became increasingly worried about their son Prince George and his role at the historic event. “I’ve heard from my contacts that there is a bit of an argument going on about whether George should play a more formal role,” Quinn told The Express at the time. “I’ve heard that Kate and William are worried that it will be too much for him.”

He continued: “It’s almost an echo of the way William and Harry were sometimes made to attend formal occasions that they shouldn’t have been made to attend – most famously, the funeral of their mother, and walking behind her coffin at their age. A lot of people criticised that and said that it was a horrible thing to make two boys that young, and especially Harry, do. So I think people are remembering this and thinking, ‘Well hang on a minute, if George is some sort of a pageboy, or has a similar role at the Coronation, is that going back too far towards the traditional roles?’

“So I’ve heard that there is a debate going on quite fiercely at the moment about how to do that. And, as far as I’ve heard, it hasn’t been decided yet.” Of course, Prince George did go on to take a prominent role at his grandfather’s coronation on 6 May – and in doing so, made history as the youngest future king to play a part in a crowning ceremony.

He was given the honour of being a Page of Honour, serving alongside even other pages for King Charles and Queen Camilla and taking part in the procession at Westminster Abbey. George stepped into the spotlight as one of four Pages of Honor attending to the King, alongside Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, Nicholas Barclay and Ralph Tollemache. Meanwhile, Queen Camilla was supported by her three grandsons — Gus Lopes, Louis Lopes, Freddy Parker Bowles — and great-nephew, Arthur Elliot. Gus and Louis, 14, are the twin sons of Camilla’s daughter Laura Lopes, and 13-year-old Freddy is the son of Tom Parker Bowles , Camilla’s son. Arthur is the son of her nephew Ben Elliot, and grandson of her sister, Annabel Elliot.