Prince George could soon be introduced to a centuries-old royal tradition that some have labeled as “gruesome,” as part of his role in the royal family.

As the eldest child of Prince William and Princess Kate, 11-year-old George may take part in one of the monarchy’s more controversial customs during the family’s upcoming summer visit to Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

A Historic Family Tradition

According to royal author Duncan Larcombe, George is expected to join his family at Balmoral, where many royal customs are passed down. In his book Prince Harry: The Inside Story, Larcombe suggested that George may be included in a traditional stag hunt, a practice long associated with royal life.

But more notably, he hinted that the young prince could experience a controversial initiation ritual tied to the hunt. “The palace has refused to comment on claims that Prince George will be initiated into one of the slightly more gruesome royal traditions this summer,” Larcombe wrote. “It was reported that he will join his father on a stag-hunting shoot while they visit the Balmoral Estate this month. Traditionally, the blood of a hunter’s first kill is spread on their face, a ritual that goes back centuries.”

He also mentioned that although Kate has participated in hunts in the past, it’s still unclear whether George will be expected to follow the same path.

Changing Attitudes Toward Royal Hunting

Despite the tradition, hunting on parts of royal land has recently come under scrutiny. In 2023, it was reported that the royal family was no longer allowed to engage in hunting, deer stalking, or fishing at the Abergeldie Estate, which borders Balmoral.

Prince Harry previously gave insight into his own experience with the tradition in his memoir Spare, where he detailed an intense initiation following his first deer hunt. After killing a rabbit, he described how his nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke, gently smeared the animal’s blood across his forehead, cheeks, and nose as part of the ritual.

Harry also wrote about a particularly disturbing moment with a hunting guide named Sandy: “He placed a hand gently behind my neck, and… pushed my head inside the carcass,” he recalled. “I tried to pull away, but Sandy pushed me deeper… My nose and mouth were full of blood, guts and a deep, upsetting warmth.”

Growing Backlash from Activists

The royal family’s long-standing association with hunting has faced increasing criticism from animal rights and environmental groups. Advocacy organization Protect the Wild has condemned the tradition, saying, “If the King and his family truly cared about conservation, they would show this by taking concrete steps to end shooting and hunting on their estates.” The group urged the royals to follow the example of other Scottish landowners and focus on rewilding efforts instead.

Kate Middleton Reportedly Opposed to ‘Blooding’ Tradition

Despite royal precedent, it appears Princess Kate is strongly against the practice of “blooding” — the ritual of smearing a first kill’s blood on the hunter’s face. According to the book Yes Ma’am – The Secret Life of Royal Servants by Tom Quinn, Kate has reportedly forbidden her children from taking part in the tradition.

An excerpt from the book states: “Charles’s daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has put her foot down and insisted there will be no blooding for her children.”

This marks a break from past generations, as both Prince William and Prince Harry, along with King Charles, underwent the ritual in their youth. Whether Prince George will continue the tradition or be shielded from it remains to be seen.