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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

How Prince George bagged major Coronation role despite Kate Middleton's 'concerns'

The pages of honour at King Charles and Queen Camilla's Coronation have been revealed - and one is a very familiar face.

The youngest and most famous of the eight schoolboys taking on the huge role is second-in-line to the throne, Prince George.

At nine years old, he is considerably younger than several of the other boys being given the honour - and traditionally pages tend to be between the ages of 12 and 15.

However, it seems several people were keen for George to take on the task - despite previous reports his mum the Princess of Wales had initial concerns and strict conditions about how much scrutiny he would put under.

Prince George with his mum Kate (PA)

And one of them is said to have been George himself, who reportedly showed a "deep interest" in the Coronation ceremony - as well as his proud grandfather Charles.

A well-placed insider said: "The King is very keen to show those in the line of ­succession, his natural heirs, at the centre of his Coronation.

"Even though he is only nine, George is very mature and already has a deep understanding of the roles of his grandfather and father, as well as his future role.

"This task is a wonderful sign of the future being laid out by the King."

Prince George will be the youngest of the pages at the Coronation (WireImage)

It was first suggested in February that George, who turns 10 in July, would be handed a plum role in the Coronation.

But it was reported that his parents William and Kate had a strict condition about any part he would play.

According to the Sunday Times, William and Kate wanted the role to not "subject him to overwhelming scrutiny".

George with his grandfather King Charles and late great grandmother Elizabeth II (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Sunday Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah previously told True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat: "They are very keen, but if George does have an official role, it will be quite low-key.

"They are very conscious that he will return to school on the Tuesday [after the Coronation], and they do not want him to be overwhelmed by the attention. But he may play a smaller official role."

The King and Queen will each have four Pages of Honour supporting them on the day of the Coronation.

Camilla's twin grandsons Louis and Gus pictured in 2016 (Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock)

On the historic day as the procession of the King and Queen, their regalia, senior clerics, and other figures makes its way through the nave of Westminster Abbey, the pages will hold the robes of some of the leading individuals taking part.

As well as George, the King's pages are Nicholas Barclay, 13, grandson of Sarah Troughton one of the Queen's Companions, Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, 13, son of the Marquess of Cholmondeley also known as film-maker David Rocksavage and a friend of the Prince of Wales, and Ralph Tollemache, 12.

The Queen's Pages of Honour will be her three grandsons, twin boys Gus and Louis, aged 13, by her daughter Laura Lopes, and 13-year-old Freddy, by son Tom Parker Bowles, and her great-nephew, Arthur Elliot, 10.

They will all wear a scarlet frock coat with gold trimmings, a white satin waistcoat, white breeches and hose, white gloves, black buckled shoes and a lace cravat and ruffles.

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