'THE RHYTHM OF CHANGE HAS BEGUN'

Acclaimed royal author Robert Jobson reflects on how the Prince and Princess of Wales are shaping a new era for the monarchy

- ROBERT JOBSON

All eyes were on the 12-year-old boy standing beside his mother at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance.

Prince George joined the Princess of Wales and his grandfather the King, surrounded by the weight of history and the comfort of continuity. His father, the Prince of Wales, was returning from Brazil after the Cop30 summit and his Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.

The young prince sang God Save the King with a clear, confident voice. He stood straight, alert, absorbing every detail. A child, yes, but already measured and aware. In that still moment, he embodied both innocence and inheritance - the promise of a future in formation.

The evening in London on Saturday 8 November carried deep resonance, and not just because it marked a milestone for the royals. The Royal British Legion event gathered veterans, serving personnel and bereaved families.

Sir Rod Stewart, Sam Ryder, Keala Settle, Blessing Offor and The Wellermen performed, alongside the Central Band of the RAF and Royal Marines Band Service. They all offered a poignant reminder of sacrifice and service.

PASSING THE BATON

George’s presence mattered beyond protocol. At 12, he is old enough to grasp the meaning of duty without being burdened by it; in a similar awakening to service, William first marked VE Day at 12 beside his mother, Princess Diana, in Hyde Park. The parallel is deliberate: two heirs on the cusp of adolescence learning that duty begins by bearing witness.

This is the new face of the monarchy. William and Kate stand at its core - calm, capable, quietly transformative. The King reigns with grace and resolve, but he knows that the rhythm of change has begun. The Waleses shape the next age: open, modern, human and with a loving dynamic on show like never before within the royal family.