People disgusted as five-year-old Prince George is brought hunting

The royal family has become increasingly modern in recent years. Not only do the royals have their own social media accounts, but commoners (including Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton) are being embraced into the family too. What’s more, the queen’s cousin will soon be the first royal to enter into gay marriage. However, one tradition the Windsors can’t seem to relinquish is hunting.

Over the weekend, Prince George was taken on his first grouse shoot in Balmoral, Scotland. The controversial hobby has been a family favourite for generations; with past princes and kings choosing everything from birds to rabbits as targets. According to the Telegraph, the Queen’s father George VI and his party shot 90 pheasants, 17 rabbits, two pigeons and three mallards in one day alone. That was in 1952; fast-forward 66 years, the tradition is still as popular today.

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

Five-year-old George was accompanied by his mum and dad, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to observe the hunt in the Scottish Highlands. According to Emily Andrews, royal correspondent for the Sun, the Queen drove her Range Rover to witness the prince make the major milestone. The hunt was followed by a spot of family lunch.

Needless to say, the news isn’t going down well. Not only are people disgusted by the idea of hunting for sport, but also with the idea of having children so close to guns.

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

Indoctrination to animal cruelty starts at a young age in the ‘royal family’ it seems ? absolutely disgusting.

We should be teaching children about kindness and compassion, not killing and cruelty. https://t.co/EW57cYCvDg

— Mus ? (@_ayrtonnn) August 26, 2018

Young Prince George, according to today’s @DailyMailUK was last week taken to his first grouse shoot. Beggars belief. Appalling.

— Christine Bacon (@xtinebacon) August 27, 2018

Given his stance on wildlife conservation, it seems somewhat hypocritical to us for Prince William to take his son shooting. Speaking alongside his father Charles about #UniteForWildlife, the future king of England said, “It is shocking that future generations may know a world without these magnificent animals and the habitats upon which they depend. This year, I have become even more devoted to protecting the resources of the earth.”

Perhaps someone should tell him conservation begins at home.

Photo by Matt Porteous, shared via @kensingtonroyal on Instagram