Prince George is said to be faced with a "daunting" reality as he braces for a particularly "testing year" ahead, a royal expert has claimed. The second in line to the British throne, 12, will become a teenager on July 22 and also head to secondary school the next academic year.

All this while both his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, are said to be slowly easing him into what his future role holds. George made a rare appearance by his mother's side last year, when he joined her at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Now, a royal expert has weighed in on what the year holds for the young future King.

Royal commentator Jennie Bond told the Mirror: "Certainly, as a family, the Waleses do have a complicated destiny.

"They can't pretend that there is total equality between their three children because one of them is going to be the ultimate top dog - the King. And that obviously creates different issues for each child."

She added: "For George, it must be daunting, but I think William and Catherine are intent on letting him just enjoy his childhood for as long as possible without worrying about the future."

Ms Bond described Princess Catherine as an "acknowledged expert" in the field of early years development and claimed she is "the most capable person" to deal with her children and "reassure them of their worth".

It comes as the princess recently made a hilarious confession about her eldest son during a reception for the Red Roses at Windsor Castle.

The future Queen said that her children play rugby at home and had the Red Roses in stitches after revealing that she would not want to be tackled by Prince George.

She said: "Rugby is so accessible, Louis is playing touch rugby and it's such a great game.

"Actually, they shouldn't necessarily need to push boys and girls in particular sports too early.

"Obviously, as they get physically stronger - George now, if we play at home, I do not want to get tackled by George - but, up to a certain age, I think it's great."