As the celebrations of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee draw near, it's looking like this will be a transformative year for the royal family.
While Queen Elizabeth is very much active in her leadership, she is reasonably looking ahead to the family's future. This much is clear with her recent decision to share her wish that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall be recognized as queen consort when Prince Charles one day takes the throne.
The future of the family is in the hands of the younger generations, however. Sources indicate that the Queen's grandchildren and great-grandchildren are stepping up to support Her Majesty through a monumental year.
Royal author Nigel Cawthorne believes we'll see the Queen's grandchildren and great-grandchildren playing a bigger role in the family, starting with the Platinum Jubilee.
"Thankfully, the Queen has the strong arms of William and Kate around her shoulders," he said, per the Mirror.
"I think we're going to see Her Majesty's grandchildren really step up this year and her great grandchildren, especially George, will be up front and heavily involved in the celebrations."
It's been an incredibly difficult year for the Queen. As she continues to ride out that emotional roller coaster, those who surround her will be crucial to what comes next.
"The Queen will be experiencing a whole gamut of emotions – everything from grieving her husband and remembering her father, to feeling pride towards all that she and her family have achieved," Cawthorne noted.
"She took the throne of a bomb-scarred nation and steered it into a period of political stability," he continued.
"That is an incredible legacy. She knows William, Kate and their children will find a way forward for the royal family."
Queen Elizabeth certainly has a lot of family to lean on. She has eight grandchildren: 44-year-old Peter Phillips, 40-year-old Zara Tindall, 39-year-old Prince William, 37-year-old Prince Harry, 33-year-old Princess Beatrice, 31-year-old Princess Eugenie, 18-year-old Lady Louise Windsor, and 14-year-old James, Viscount Severn.
The Queen also has 11 great-grandchildren, whose lives she is getting to enjoy. There is 11-year-old Savannah Phillips, 9-year-old Isla Phillips, 8-year-old Prince George, 8-year-old Mia Tindall, 6-year-old Princess Charlotte, 3-year-old Prince Louis, 3-year-old Lena Tindall, 2-year-old Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, 1-year-old August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, 10-month-old Lucas Philip Tindall, and 8-month-old Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
It will be interesting, in particular, to see how Prince George is expected to step forward. Certainly, all heirs begin receiving preparation for their future during their childhood. Today, more is known about trauma and the complex emotions of children than ever before, so more eyes are on that aspect of the process.
Prince Harry's discussion of his experiences as a child and an adult within the family have also brought attention to the fact that some of this can be problematic. George's generation is the first growing up in the spotlight with that knowledge readily available, making how their role within the larger royal machine is handled that much more delicate of a situation.
