Prince William brands Prince George ‘a rascal’ in unearthed comments

The Prince of Wales once confessed that his eldest son, Prince George, was a “little bit of a rascal” as he and wife, Kate, got used to their new roles as parents.

The then Duke of Cambridge gave his first interview just a few weeks after welcoming their firstborn at the Lindo Wing on 22 July 2013.

Speaking to CNN at the time, William opened up fatherhood and sleep deprivation as he shared that George “was a little bit of a rascal,” before adding: “He either reminds me of my brother or me when I was younger, I’m not sure, but he’s doing very well at the moment.”

He went on to reveal that his baby son did not “want to go to sleep that much, which is a little bit of a problem”.

William and Kate introduced George to the world on the steps of the Lindo Wing outside St Mary’s Hospital in London, the day after his birth.

The new father was praised for swiftly fixing the baby’s car seat into the back of the car as the media watched shortly after the photocall.

© Getty

“I know there’s been speculation about that. I had to practise, I really did,” William admitted at the time. “I was terrified that I was going to do some… you know, it was going to fall off or it wasn’t going to close properly. So, I had actually practised with that seat, but only once before.”

Teenage George ready for his next chapter

Fast-forward 13 years and Prince George is about to embark on the next stage of his education, having marked his milestone birthday this week.

The future King has finished his time at Lambrook School, the private co-ed prep school in Berkshire where he occasionally boarded, ready for his transition to boys-only Eton, where fees are more than £65,000 a year.

© Matt Porteous / Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace confirmed his school place in June following months of speculation.

George is set to follow in his father’s footsteps, with William leaving Eton with ten GCSEs and three A-Levels in 2000.

Destiny as King

Prince George is currently second-in-line to the throne behind his father, Prince William, and is gently being introduced to his future role.

He has participated in a number of public events in recent months, including a visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire with his mother, the Princess of Wales, to mark National Armed Forces Day.

© @princeandprincessofwales

In December, George helped to prepare Christmas lunch at The Passage homelessness shelter – an organisation close to his father William’s heart. Just weeks before, he accompanied Kate to the Festival of Remembrance at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The young Prince also attended a tea party for veterans at Buckingham Palace during the VE Day 80 commemorations in May 2025.