ED composite of Princess Charlotte and Prince George at royal events
Royals

‘Difficult situation’ Princess Charlotte could face with brother Prince George

Princess Charlotte is third in line to the throne

Princess Charlotte could apparently face a “difficult” position in the future with her older brother, Prince George.

According to a royal commentator, Charlotte could one day need to come to terms with her status in the monarchy.

This is something that has affected the likes of Prince Harry and Princess Margaret in the past.

Princess Charlotte
Princess Charlotte is third in line to the throne (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Princess Charlotte could face difficult position

At 10 years old, Princess Charlotte has a long way to go before she ever has to worry about her brother, Prince George, becoming king.

However, one day, the young royal will have come to terms with the fact that the monarchy won’t be focusing on her, but her older brother, a royal expert has claimed.

Speaking to The Mirror, ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship said: “It’s a very difficult position to be in.”

He then suggested that it’s something the royal, who turns 11 this year, will have to “come to terms with” when George ascends to the throne.

Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children at Trooping the Colour
Charlotte’s brother Prince George will be king one day (Credit: Cover Images)

Charlotte may experience ‘existential struggle’

The late Queen Elizabeth II’s sister, Princess Margaret, reportedly struggled to forge an identity for herself while living in the shadow of her older sister.

Prince Harry, meanwhile, has also opened up in the past about being the “spare” as his older brother, Prince William, is destined to be king one day.

In his book, rather aptly titled Spare, Harry wrote: “The Heir and the Spare. There was no judgment about it, but also no ambiguity.

“I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B. I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy. I was summoned to provide backup, distraction, diversion and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow. This was all made explicitly clear to me from the start of life’s journey and regularly reinforced thereafter.”

Princess Margaret in a big green coat in 2001
Princess Margaret struggled with her role as a “spare” (Credit: Cover Images)

A ‘difficult position’

“There are comparisons between Margaret and Prince Harry; both being spares to the heir without a role of their own. Margaret must have wondered what the point of her even being there was, as it was all about her older sister,” Ship added.

“It’s a very difficult position to be in, and it’s probably something Princess Charlotte will also have to come to terms with, when George eventually becomes king and she has to find a role for herself.”

Meanwhile, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams previously said that Prince William and Princess Catherine will do everything they can to ensure their youngest children, Charlotte and Prince Louis, don’t end up feeling like the “spares”.

What is a royal ‘spare’?

Mr Fitzwilliams explained that the “spare” phrase is “a cliché and implies someone is basically undervalued because they were born after the heir”.

He told Royal Insider that William and Catherine would “never allow Louis [or Charlotte] to feel that way”.

Read more: ‘Family decision’ Princess Kate and Prince William made that Queen Elizabeth II ‘thought was mad’

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Robert Emlyn Slater
Freelance Writer

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