Prince George not having a smartphone is a ‘tense issue,’ what will happen when he changes school?
Prince William has recently been in Brazil for the Earthshot Prize Awards.
Whilst the Prince of Wales was in Brazil for the Earthshot Prize Awards, he spoke to TV host Luciano Huck and revealed that “It is really hard. Our children don't have phones. When George moves on to secondary school, maybe he'll have one with limited access.”
"It's getting to the point where it is becoming a bit of a tense issue. But I think he understands why, we communicate why we don't think it's right.
"I think it's the full internet access I have a problem with, children can access too much stuff they don't need to see online but having a phone with text messages, the old-style brick phones like we used to call them, that's fine."
In an essay written in collaboration with Prof Robert Waldinger from Harvard Medical School, Catherine, Princess of Wales outlined her concerns about smartphones and wrote: "While digital devices promise to keep us connected, they frequently do the opposite.”
Catherine, Princess of Wales also wrote: "We're physically present but mentally absent, unable to fully engage with the people right in front of us.” She went on to say that "When we check our phones during conversations, scroll through social media during family dinners, or respond to e-mails while playing with our children, we're not just being distracted, we are withdrawing the basic form of love that human connection requires," she writes.
“This is a particularly acute challenge for today's children who are in a "world immersed in digital technology"
What will happen when Prince George changes schools?
Prince George is currently in Year 8 at Lambrook Prep school in Berkshire. According to the school’s website, "With 52 acres of beautiful grounds, our own Orchard complex with bees, chickens and ghosts, woodland, 9 hole golf course and endless sports pitches, our children have plenty of opportunities to explore, play, learn and of course to get muddy.”
Whilst the Prince and Princess of Wales are keen for Prince George not to have a smartphone yet, Prince William has already touched on how this might change when he goes to secondary school.
It is not yet known where Prince George is set to be starting Year 9, but it is likely that he will go to boarding school and attend Eton College and follow in the footsteps of his father Prince William and uncle Prince Harry. If the Prince and Princess of Wales decide against Eton College, Prince George may go to the same school as his mother, Marlborough College.
It will be interesting to see if the Prince and Princess of Wales are able to ensure that the issue of Prince George having a smartphone remains simply a ‘tense issue’ or whilst like many other parents across the UK, will feel the need to allow him to have one. Watch this space…