King Charles to prepare Prince George for throne with touching tradition, ex-butler claims

King Charles to prepare Prince George for throne with touching tradition, ex-butler claims King Charles has been tipped to revive an old tradition after Prince George started his Eton career - his father Prince William also enjoyed the ritual and it is hoped it will prepare him to be king Prince George entered a new phase of his life when he started at the prestigious Eton College. He is following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, who was also 13 when he began boarding at the Berkshire institution. It is hoped the education the school provides will stand George in good stead for when he eventually takes the throne. And King Charles has been tipped to "bring back a touching tradition" that will help prepare him for the momentous occasion. When William was at Eton, he would regularly go for tea with his grandmother, the late Queen, when she was in Windsor. A former royal staffer predicted Charles will try and incorporate something similar to help George settle into his new life - and prepare for the future. Grant Harrold became a royal butler for the then-Prince of Wales, Charles, from 2004 to 2011. He said: "I imagine the King will possibly try to recreate the afternoon tea routine that his mother and son shared with his grandson. Whenever he is in Windsor, I imagine he will make an effort to see George. He will want to know how he’s getting on and school, and also to start preparing him for the future. “He understands better than anyone the challenges George will face as the future King going through the difficult teenage years. He’s a very caring man and he loves his family dearly, so he will want to help his grandson in any way he can - even if that’s just being an understanding ear.” Unlike William and George, Charles attended Gordonstoun School in the remote north-east of Scotland on the insistence of his father, Prince Philip. He became the first heir apparent to the British throne to be educated at a school rather than by a private tutor. George was dropped off at school by his parents, William and Kate Middleton, half an hour earlier than the other students. His uncle Prince Harry and Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, were also educated at Eton. Grant described how the experience would likely have been for William, suggesting it made him a "regular reminder that he wasn't just a normal student". Speaking on behalf of Select Car Leasing, he said: "One of her (the Queen's) staff would have driven to the school to pick him up. It wouldn’t have been a fancy ride in one of the big cars, it would have been very low key and similar to any other parents picking their child up for a day out on their day off - but of course with a far fancier destination. "I believe it was in these sessions that she unofficially and subtly began to prep him for his role as the future King. She would have been telling him things that she was doing, so he learned how she handled them - and also saw what the job entailed. "She also would have been offering him bits of advice. I also imagine it was during these chats that William first told his grandmother about Kate, so lots of special moments for them both. They were very close, and I believe these regular meetings went a long way towards this. "I also imagine that they gave William a regular reminder that he wasn’t just a normal student and that he had a very unique future ahead - because his classmates wouldn’t have been popping off to the palace for afternoon tea during their free time.”