Prince George may be introduced to ‘gruesome’ royal hunting tradition this summer
Prince George may take part in the gruesome royal tradition known as 'blooding'
Prince George could be in for a summer steeped in royal history, and potentially blood, as speculation grows that he may be introduced to one of the monarchy’s oldest and most controversial traditions.
According to royal biographer Duncan Larcombe, the 11-year-old heir might take part in a hunting ritual during his family’s annual summer stay at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Prince George‘s ancestors have followed this tradition for centuries.
Prince George may take part in ‘gruesome’ royal tradition ‘blooding’
It was reported that he will join his father on a stag-hunting shoot while they visit the Balmoral Estate this month.”
The tradition in question is known as “blooding”.
This ancient hunting rite is when the blood of an animal is smeared on the face of a first-time hunter after their first kill.
Though steeped in aristocratic history, the practice is increasingly viewed as outdated and controversial.
Writing in his book, Prince Harry: The Inside Story, Duncan claimed: “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.
“Traditionally, the blood of a hunter’s first kill is spread on their face,” Duncan wrote. “It’s a ritual that goes back centuries.”
Whether Prince George will participate remains to be seen.
His mother, the Princess of Wales, is reportedly opposed to the tradition.
In Yes, Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, author Tom Quinn claimed: “Catherine, Princess of Wales, has put her foot down and insisted there will be no blooding for her children.”
Hunting in the royal family
Prince Harry also described the traumatic experience of his own “blooding” in his memoir Spare.
He recounted how, during a hunting trip, a fellow participant shoved his head inside a dead animal’s carcass.
“I tried to pull away, but Sandy pushed me deeper,” Harry wrote. “I was shocked by his insane strength. And by the infernal smell. My breakfast jumped up from my stomach.”
Harry’s hunting experiences became public after it was revealed he had shot a deer and killed a rabbit.
The latter culminated in a ritualistic moment where his nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke, reportedly smeared a “dollop” of the rabbit’s blood across his forehead, cheeks, and nose.
Princess Kate previously accompanied Prince William on royal shoots. However, it’s unclear if she will allow George to participate, let alone be subjected to the full tradition.
Despite modern shifts in parenting and public perception, country sports like shooting remain a fixture of royal life.
Especially during holidays at Balmoral, where generations of Windsors have bonded over deer stalking and pheasant shoots.
The late Queen Elizabeth II was also an avid deer stalker. She often accompanied Prince Philip on hunts, including tiger hunts during a royal tour of India in the 1960s.
In 2002, The Mail on Sunday reported that King Charles, then Prince of Wales, attempted to persuade then-Prime Minister Tony Blair to reconsider a ban on fox hunting.
Charles described the practice as “natural”.
If George does attend, it would mark a notable step into royal adulthood. For now, the decision likely rests with his parents.
Read more: Prince William and Kate Middleton’s ‘priority’ when it comes to Prince George’s future
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