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Title: Prince William and Kate Powerless to React as HBO’s “The Prince” Draws Controversy
Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, find themselves in a challenging position as they express concerns about the portrayal of their son, Prince George, in the new HBO series, “The Prince.”
However, their ability to take action against the US-made program is limited, given that they have no jurisdiction over it.
Insiders reveal that Prince William and Kate have always strived to shield Prince George from excessive media attention, particularly due to their worries about the rapidly changing world he is growing up in.
Despite the negative depiction of their 8-year-old son in the animated series, “The Prince,” the royal couple is unable to intervene as it is currently unavailable on British streaming platforms.
Renowned royal author and expert, Robert Lacey, discloses that Prince George was only informed about his future role as king when he turned seven in 2020.
Since then, Prince William and Kate have been providing support and nurturing his interest in royal history, with insiders noting that he actively engages during lessons about his family's past.
Victoria Arbiter, another royal expert, highlights the question many have raised regarding why the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have not lodged a complaint against the show, considering Prince George is the main character.
The truth is that their hands are tied due to the fact that the program is produced in the US and airs on a US-based platform.
Just as Americans would object if Brits vilified Donald and Melania Trump's son, Barron, the royals lack jurisdiction over an American-made show.
While public consensus leans towards protecting children from such portrayals, any objection from Prince William and Kate would only generate more publicity for what the show's creator, Gary Gennady, falsely describes as a comedy.
Hence, the royal couple has chosen to remain silent.
According to claims made in Robert Lacey's book, “Battle of Brothers,” Prince George was informed about his future during the summer of 2020.
An insider shared that the young prince was not taken aback by the news and instead expressed a desire to learn more about his family's history to prepare himself for his future role.
Prince William, mindful of George's tender age, has been cautious not to overwhelm him with too much information.
However, George understands that being a king involves more than what is portrayed in Disney movies and children's books.
Despite Prince George's young age, it is considered relatively late for a future monarch to be informed about their destiny.
In the 12 episodes of “The Prince,” George's character is depicted as a shallow and self-obsessed influencer, obsessed with royal gossip and dismissive of his siblings.
The show, created by Gary Gennady, co-creator of “Family Guy,” premiered on July 29 and has garnered mixed reviews from critics.
Criticism of the portrayal of Prince George has been widespread, with Alex Beresford, host of “Good Morning Britain,” condemning the show as cheap and asserting that it crossed a line.
Dr. Shola Moshogbamimu also expressed her disapproval, stating that creating a parody to mock an eight-year-old is neither funny nor responsible.
Other members of the royal family, including Prince Philip, who is offensively portrayed, Camilla, referred to as a horse, and even the Queen, depicted as swearing and brandishing a pistol, have faced similar controversial portrayals.
Notably, renowned Hollywood actors such as Orlando Bloom and Sophie Turner lend their voices to the main characters of the show, portraying Prince Harry and Princess Charlotte, respectively.
Prince William, in an interview, emphasized his commitment to raising his family in as normal a way as possible, drawing inspiration from how Princess Diana raised him.
Another source revealed that the Cambridges aspire to raise their family in a modern manner, navigating pitfalls that they themselves never encountered during their own upbringing.
For instance, Kate Middleton reportedly contemplated refraining from sharing a photo of Prince George on his eighth birthday after he was targeted by online trolls.