Prince George ventured out with father Prince William over the bank holiday weekend as the Duke of Cambridge hunted grouse near Balmoral. It isn’t the first time the little royal has been out hunting with his family. He also accompanied a hunt in July ahead of his seventh birthday.
Most of the Royal Family enjoy hunting expeditions, although some members are known to vocally oppose the trips.
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s wife, for example, is openly known not to approve of the sport, with Harry since having completely stopped hunting but for one trip on Boxing Day in 2018.
Princess Diana, William and Harry’s later mother, also disliked hunting – no surprise given her humanitarian and animal welfare interests.
Although, she did go on hunting trips during the season with Prince Charles, not holding it against the family, and many would argue that she certainly wouldn’t hold it against her grandson, George.
Many have noted how Diana would love her grandchildren, with the late princess’ close friend and George’s godmother, Julia Samuel, revealing in the podcast ‘How to Fail with Elizabeth Day’ earlier this year that the princess would have intensely “loved George so much”.
Of George, she said: “He is amazing.
“He’s funny and feisty and cheeky and God she (Diana) would have loved him so much. That is heartbreaking for all of them.”
She further revealed a charming tradition inspired by Diana that she continues to practice to this day.
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Julia is one of seven godparents to George, along with Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Earl Grosvenor, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, William van Cutsem and Zara Tindall.
Meanwhile, Kate Middleton, George’s mother, is thought to have accompanied him and William on the hunting trip over the weekend.
This left Princess Charlotte, five, and two-year-old Prince Louis at their lodgings.
The family were in Scotland on a family holiday, also visiting the Queen.
Royal sources said Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, were also present, as was her son Peter Phillips, who was staying on the estate with his daughters, Savannah and Isla.
Prince Edward and son James, Viscount Severn, 12, also took part in the shoot and were joined by his wife Sophie and daughter Lady Louise, 16, for lunch.
The monarch, however, is believed not to have lunched with the family.
Nor did Charles or Camilla attend.
Reports suggest the Queen was concerned about breaking her “Balmoral bubble”.
