A breaking news story has just emerged related to Princess Charlotte, daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton. As it has been revealed, the couple is doing everything possible to ensure their daughter doesn't feel like a mere backup to George, her older brother and future British monarch.
Although Charlotte has just turned 10 years old, Kate and William are fully aware of how complicated her position can be within the line of succession of the British Royal Family.
Today, the princess is the "reserve" for her older brother, Prince George, the direct heir to the throne. A delicate situation that her uncle, Prince Harry, also had to go through years ago.
In fact, the suffering he experienced was such that he decided to address this topic in his book Spare: En la sombra. In its pages, the Duke of Sussex recalls how, from a young age, he always felt like William's "spare part":
"I was the shadow, the support, the plan B. I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy[Prince William]." As an example of the different treatment they received, Prince Harry recounted that at Balmoral they both shared a room, but his part was "smaller and miserable."
"I never asked why, I didn't care. Besides, it wasn't necessary: Willy, who is two years older than me, was the heir... I was the spare," he stated, revealing the trauma that, it seems, has marked his entire life.
For this reason, now Prince William and Kate Middleton are determined to prevent their daughter Charlotte from experiencing a similar situation to what her uncle went through. So much so that, according to royal biographer Robert Hardman explained to People, the Princes of Wales are taking measures to provide her with the greatest possible protection.
Prince William and Kate Middleton take a series of measures to protect Princess Charlotte
Additionally, Robert Hardman has pointed out that Queen Elizabeth II understood well how complicated it can be to occupy the second place in the line of succession. This is why she had a special fondness for Prince Harry:
"That's why she had a special fondness for her sister Margaret, her son Andrew, and her nephew Harry. She was very aware that being number 2 in such a strictly hierarchical family and institution poses a great challenge."
On the other hand, according to the biographer, everyone in the British Royal Family "is aware of this," especially Prince William. The future monarch believes that, in addition to preparing to "reign," one of his duties is "to make their life as royals accessible and not terrifying for their children."
Especially for Princess Charlotte, since, in addition to being George's "reserve," she is the first woman in the British monarchy to have kept her place in the line of succession. And all thanks to the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.
In the future, Prince William's daughter could hold the title of Princess Royal, like her great-aunt, Princess Anne. Although this title, granted by the monarch, could also be declined if she so wishes.