A "Beautifully Dressed" Prince George Was Spotted Keeping Himself Busy During a Boring Errand With Carole Middleton

Carole Middleton wearing a tartan coat and smiling; Prince George wearing a suit sitting in church

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Running to stores with your grandmother isn't exactly the most exciting day out for any child, but Carole Middleton once showed that even royal kids aren't exempt from mundane errands. The Times recently published an in-depth piece about Princess Kate ahead of her 44th birthday on January 9, and in the profile, referenced a run-in one woman had with Kate's mom and Prince George.

According to the outlet, George, 12, is "used to helping on errands," noting how a "Windsor local" once spotted the future King "happily" snacking while his grandmother was at a furnishings shop. The moment in question was first revealed last September when the Prince and Princess of Wales visited a Women's Institute to mark the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's death.

"I had popped in to pick up some wallpaper samples and Prince George had gone in with his granny, Carole Middleton," Sally Pellow, 64, said at the time, per the Standard.

Prince George in a boat with Carole Middleton at the King's Cup Regatta in 2019 — A young Prince George is pictured at the King's Cup Regatta with Carole Middleton in 2019.

Prince George, Prince William and Prince Louis walking from church on Christmas day — Prince George is pictured walking from church on Christmas Day 2025.

Her Prince George sighting happened roughly five years ago, when George would've been around seven, and Pellow continued, "He was beautifully dressed and sitting at a desk eating bits of orange."

Elsewhere in the Times's profile, assistant editor Kate Mansey notes that the Princess of Wales feels "the pressure to 'get it right'" raising the future King. "It’s why the school runs and sporting fixtures are important, as is time with grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton," Mansey continues.

Taking part in everyday tasks like running errands is something that other monarchs certainly didn't experience, even if Prince William had a slightly less formal upbringing than his father. And as the future King, being raised with "normal" experiences will become more important than ever in a world where the monarchy must strive to become more relevant.

However, no one is perfect. As Prince William joked during his Women's Institute visit in September, George might behave impeccably in public, but "behind closed doors, it’s a different story."

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Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.