Prince George, their eldest child and the new heir to the throne, will soon turn twelve. Soon, he will be introduced to a curious royal custom that is traditionally tied to this impressive achievement. According to reports, a new royal rule change could require him and his siblings to acquire tattoos of their royal cypher. This possible change in royal protocol hasn’t gone unnoticed. It has ignited a wider conversation about the place of body art in the royal family.
Recent insights reveal that Phil Smith, a tattoo enthusiast and admirer of the royal family, has already embraced this unusual trend. Smith lifts his sleeves and proudly displays four royal cypher tattoos. These feature the effigies of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, and Queen Camilla. According to Davila, it only took an hour and a half to finish the tattoos. He cautioned that the process was “b***** painful.”
“That was probably about an hour and a half (to ink), but it was b***** painful.” – Phil Smith
It seems like every royal isn’t quite so keen on the body ink. No remarks Queen Camilla has been amused by Phil Smith’s commitment to royal cyphers, even finding his tattoos “hilarious.” This amusing response provides a welcome glimpse into a world normally reserved for stiff upper lips, as the royal family tackles modern cultural touchstones.
The discussions about tattoos in royal circles doesn’t stop with Smith’s ink. Princess Eugenie While Princess Eugenie is most well-known for her circle tattoo behind her ear, its meaning is still a bit of an enigma. Meanwhile, Princess Sofia of Sweden sports multiple tattoos, including a sun between her shoulder blades, a butterfly on her rib cage, and a small tattoo on her ankle. These three examples might suggest that body art has made a breakthrough into gradual acceptance among the regal elite.
It’s easy to see why King Frederik of Denmark has been making headlines recently with his awesome tattoos. One shows a shark, while the other, on his upper right arm, celebrates his nickname “Pingu,” which he got while serving as a member of the Danish Frogman Corps. These examples are evidence of a changing attitude towards tattoos within the royal family, subverting expectations to push cultural customs.
Prince George, about to turn 10, marks an important moment in the royal family. The potential for him having to get a tattoo would inject a dose of unforeseen peril into the daily routine at Buckingham Palace. Whether this new rule goes into full effect is still up in the air. It does, of course, suggest the start of a much larger discussion on identity, tradition, and implications of a new, younger monarchy.
