Prince George's 'striking' transformation as Prince William and Kate's work is made clear

Prince George's 'striking' transformation as Prince William and Kate's work is made clear EXCLUSIVE: A former royal butler has said he noticed something 'striking' about Prince George during the Trooping the Colour ceremony, and it reflects the work of his parents Prince William and Kate A former Royal Family employee has revealed he spotted something remarkable about heir to the throne Prince George during the Trooping the Colour ceremony. The event, which took place over the weekend, was attended by senior royals including the young prince's parents, Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton. In the wake of the annual occasion, Grant Harrold, who served the Royal Family between 2004 and 2011, spoke candidly about his observations to Reach Plc. The former butler to King Charles III believes Prince George has undergone a transformation, one that reflects the dedication of his parents. Grant suggested he watched George, who is fast approaching his 13th birthday, truly grasp the significance of the occasion. He explained: "We saw a real change in Prince George at this year's Trooping the Colour, it was like a new version of him. "He's just a few weeks away from his 13th birthday, and behind closed doors he's also getting ready to make the transition to 'big school' - so a huge life change is just around the corner. At Saturday's event George was far more like a young, teenage royal than a child. The change was strikingly clear. "While he looked happy as he laughed with his family, I got the feeling that he understood his duty and position this year. He understands that this isn't just a fun day out to watch the flypast, but a high-profile event filled with important traditions." Grant added: "You can tell he's very protective of his younger siblings, which is lovely to see. That close bond is something they will need as they go through this unique life together." Grant also spoke about the efforts he believes William and Kate have been making in preparing their young son for the responsibilities he may one day assume, including the titles of Prince of Wales and, ultimately, King. Grant explained: "I think George's appearance at Trooping the Colour is a real reflection of the work Prince William and Kate are doing behind the scenes. His training for his royal life is in full swing. "I imagine they will be taking him to events - both publicly and privately - so he can shadow them. They will want him to see how they interact with people, and how they handle situations. "They would have been doing this to an extent for years, as they will want it to be the norm, but as he gets older it will increase. However they want to do this while still protecting him as much as they can, and waiting until they believe he is ready - which is vital." While observations were being made about George, a lip reader claims to have spotted King Charles issuing an instruction to his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Lip reader Jeremy Freeman told the Express that he believes Charlotte asked the King: "Time to wave?" He went on to claim that the King, seemingly speaking to everyone gathered on the balcony, responded: "Very good. Now we give a wave. Wave to everyone. Cheerio. That's right, thank you very much."