Prince William Reveals a Potential Career Path for Son Prince George

Although he is first in line to become the future king of the United Kingdom, before that Prince George may follow a career path previously taken by some of his other family members.

While hosting a garden party at Buckingham Palace earlier this week, Prince William hinted that his 10-year-old son has shown interest in an occupation both William and brother Prince Harry pursued. William told Squadron Leader Chrissie Lacey, a member of the Royal Air Force, that George would not only enjoy visiting the RAF base but is also a “potential pilot in the making,” according to Hello!

George’s passion for aircraft has been well documented over the years. Mom Catherine, Princess of Wales, remarked back in 2016 that her eldest child is “obsessed with planes and wants to become an air cadet.” He has also joined William and Kate on various excursions to different air bases, including visits to the Royal International Air Tattoo air show at RAF Fairford in 2016 and 2023, and a 2017 tour where he saw different helicopter models in Hamburg, Germany.

If George does indeed one day decide to become a pilot, he will be following in the footsteps of his father, who served as an RAF Search and Rescue Force pilot from 2010 to 2013, and uncle Harry, who worked as a helicopter pilot during his 10 years of service in the British Army. Other members of the royal family also have a history in aerial work: William and Harry’s great-grandfather King George VI, who ruled from 1936 to 1952, qualified for pilots’ wings prior to ascending to the throne.

Both William and Kate hold RAF-related appointments. Last August, King Charles named William the Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Valley, and Kate the Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby. And earlier this month, the monarch gave the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps—a designation previously held by Harry—to William.

As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers' rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset.