According to a former Buckingham Palace staff member, Prince George is likely to continue a royal tradition that’s been passed down through generations of his family—regardless of his personal preference.

A Glimpse Into Prince George’s Future

Though he only recently turned 12, experts are already speculating about what lies ahead for the eldest son of Prince William and Princess Kate of Wales.

One of the more immediate changes in George’s life is a new travel rule: he’s no longer allowed to fly with his father on official trips. The reason? To protect the royal line of succession. With William being next in line to the throne and George following behind him, the rule is meant to ensure the monarchy’s continuity in case of an emergency.

But flying restrictions aren’t the only thing changing in the young prince’s world.

A Military Career on the Horizon?

Grant Harrold, a former royal butler who worked for King Charles III when he was still the Prince of Wales (from 2004 to 2011), believes that a future in the armed forces is almost inevitable for Prince George.

Asked whether it would be considered unusual if George or his siblings—Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis—chose not to attend university, Harrold said: “I don’t think it would [be frowned upon] these days.”

He continued, “We may find that George, Charlotte, and Louis might not all go to university. They may go straight to somewhere like Sandhurst.”

And for George in particular, Harrold sees military training as unavoidable: “In particular, George, as it is seen as vital for future kings to have had some sort of military training, so you can guarantee that George, whether he likes it or not, will have to go through that military training.

“You’re the commanding chief of the Armed Forces, so you’ve got to know the profession,” he added.

Despite this expectation, Harrold also suggested that times may be changing. Speaking to Study Dog, he remarked that there might not be “so much pressure” on George, noting that “only time will tell.”

A Longstanding Royal Tradition

Military service runs deep in the royal family. Prince William, King Charles III, and Prince Harry all received military training in their younger years. Prince Harry went a step further, serving in the army for a full decade after enlisting at age 19.

Charles also had a distinguished military background, spending time in both the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976. He started his service at age 22 as an acting sub-lieutenant.

The list of royals who have worn a military uniform doesn’t end there. Prince Andrew, Prince Philip, and even the late Queen Elizabeth II all served.

The Queen’s Groundbreaking Role

Elizabeth II made history at 19 years old when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s division of the British Army, during World War II. She became the first female royal to serve as a full-time active-duty member of the armed forces.

As stated by the British Army, individuals can enlist at 16, where they’ll be classified as junior soldiers until the age of 18, when they can officially serve as regular members.