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When news about Prince George is leaked the reaction is usually a fusion of gushing and awww-ing, but the latest information about the five-year-old’s latest hobby is having a completely different effect.
On Sunday evening royal correspondent Emily Andrews tweeted a photo of Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth II in the car driving at Balmoral Castle. While the photo was from 2017, the caption is what has people furious.
“Kate, William, George, Charlotte & Louis are spending this weekend at Balmoral with HM. George was taken to his first grouse shoot on Friday by Kate, with the Queen, Charles, Edward, Sophie, Louise & James, Anne, Zara & Mike Tindall joining for lunch. Quite the family fun!” she captioned the image.
Kate, William, George, Charlotte & Louis are spending this weekend at Balmoral with HM. George was taken to his first grouse shoot on Friday by Kate, with the Queen, Charles, Edward, Sophie, Louise & James, Anne, Zara & Mike Tindall joining for lunch.Quite the family fun!(2017????) pic.twitter.com/I8cj1OGCB6
— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) August 26, 2018
It was the detail about Prince George learning how to shoot that had people angry, and many expressed their distaste for the activity on Twitter.
Prince William, in October of last year, made a speech warning us that “global wildlife populations have halved in his lifetime.”
Today, we learn he took his son, Prince George, on his first grouse shoot.
???? pic.twitter.com/qJB1hi4lOr
— G H Neale (@GHNeale) August 26, 2018
I just saw that Prince George has been taken to his first grouse shoot, all in the name of ‘Sport’. Such a shame that another innocent child will grow up to believe that killing animals for fun will be the normal thing to do.
— Mike’s Nature Photography (@Wildlifepics1) August 27, 2018
Really surprised that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have made a modern day media gaff by taking Prince George to a Grouse shoot at Balmoral. They shouldn’t have needed advice on that one but they clearly didn’t get any. Either that or they just don’t care!
— Jason Osborne (@osborne1612) August 26, 2018
I just read a news article that said Prince George was taken to his first grouse shoot while staying a Balmoral. If that’s the case, it make me feel sad & angry that he’s going to grow up without any empathy for animals ????@ChrisGPackham @Natures_Voice @Ban_DGS
— Michelle P ????????????⛄ (@snowangelmrsp) August 26, 2018
Others were sympathetic to the royal family, and were quick to point out that many of the people criticising ate meat on a daily basis.
People attacking Prince George for attending a grouse shoot will say how cruel it is. Earlier they will have eaten a Sunday roast, may have a burger tonight or Fish and Chips, but that’s ok
— adrian whitby (@93629362) August 26, 2018
So Prince George has been taken to a Grouse shoot and people are outraged. Odds on many of the same folk eat meat. Far better to kill and eat a bird raised in the wild, shot with no knowledge of what’s coming than eat a factory farmed chicken/pig. Misplaced outrage in my opinion.
— Dawn Stevens (@dawnestevens1) August 26, 2018
In November last year, Prince William made a speech at a gala night for The Tusk Trust, in which he advocated for animal welfare.
“For many of you, you will have heard me talk about the illegal trade before,” he said.
“It is barbaric, it destroys livelihoods and communities, and it supports organised crime. The world is a worse place for it, and we must stamp it out.”
It is this speech that many are referring to when highlighting perceived hypocrisy.
Do you think the royals are in the wrong? Tell us in the comments.