Prince George ‘Protecting’ Princess Charlotte Goes Viral

Prince George was praised by fans for “protecting” Princess Charlotte with a touching gesture in a viral TikTok video.

The future British king and his family stepped out in front of the press cameras after a memorial for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey in March 2022.

And George, eight at the time, appeared to put out a protective hand to shield Charlotte, then six, from the media.

An image of the moment was posted on TikTok over the weekend with the message: “Big brother.” It went viral on TikTok, where it was liked 34.4k times and viewed 224.8k times.

Why It Matters

George does clearly put out a hand in front of Charlotte but only he knows for sure whether his intention was to protect her from the photographers.

Either way, the viral success of the video appears to indicate fans already view the younger generation of royals with a similar lens to their parents, seemingly anticipating struggles with the media spotlight that have not yet emerged publicly.

What To Know

The visit to London’s Westminster Abbey will likely have been an emotional one for George and Charlotte as it was a thanksgiving service in honor of their great-grandfather, Prince Philip, who had died a year earlier during the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted attendance at his funeral.

George and Charlotte were among those who did not attend the April 2021 funeral at St George’s Chapel, where Queen Elizabeth II sat alone in compliance with social distancing rules.

By the time the memorial service came around a year later, lockdown restrictions in the U.K. had relaxed to the point the queen was able to sit among her family and invite representatives of the many charities Philip had worked with during his life.

What People Are Saying

One fan commented on the TikTok video, posted by user @mydearwales: “Prince William protecting Prince George and Prince George is protecting Princess Charlotte.”

Another wrote: “I always want a big brother because I’m a big sister I’m my family,” while a third wrote: “He would be a very perfect king.”

What Happens Next

George, now 11, Charlotte, 9, and their little brother Prince Louis, 6, are all still young but there is already clearly significant media interest in them.

Whatever was going through George’s mind at the moment the photo was taken, it is highly likely there will be significant attention on how the media treats them in years to come.

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.

Do you have a question about Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, Meghan and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.