Photos of Prince George playing with a toy water gun and a fake knife during a family day at a polo match lit up the internet on Monday, with critics saying the toys were an unfortunate choice for the young prince.
The future king of England looked down the barrel of the gun and played with his mother Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, pointing the gun at her face. He and his sister Princess Charlotte sat on the grass watching their father, Prince William, take part in Sunday’s Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy match at the Beaufort Polo Club.
Critics accused the royal family of insensitivity given the recent spike in violence nationwide, which has included a number of knife attacks in London.
@DailyMailUK wouldn’t exactly say a child with a gun practising his aim is the ‘most heart-lifting’ of pictures #dailymail #royalfamily #PrinceGeorge pic.twitter.com/Og6Z63qfAB
— dave4000 (@dave40003) June 11, 2018
This isn’t okay anymore… My American side here, biased maybe b/c of everyday #gunviolence in USA,but my British side agrees. No child in this day and age should look at any gun as a fun toy. This looks far too real. .(And I LOVE Prince George, don’t get me wrong!) @teamtrace pic.twitter.com/UEqtFi5WTH
— Daisy Torme (@daisytorme) June 10, 2018
Others, however, did not see the toys as noteworthy and commented that many children play harmless games like “cops and robbers” with plastic guns.
People are complaining because Prince George had a plastic gun 🙄 I had a plastic gun when I was little guess what I grew out of it I didn’t grow up to be a mass shooter or become obsessed with guns I hate guns now so just leave the boy alone and let him be a child
— Roxanne Fowler (@Roxanne_Tegan) June 10, 2018
What’s all this fuss about Prince George playing with a toy gun? Kids have played with toy guns for years (including me). They didn’t become murderers. They grew up.
Get a grip.— Donnalou (@dondons100) June 11, 2018
What’s the point in kicking off about Prince George playing with a TOY gun when chances are he will serve our country in the forces at some point in his life. Pathetic.
— Becky (@rebekahbell98) June 11, 2018
The water pistol was reportedly not bought for the prince but was won as a prize at the polo match’s children’s fair. The four-year-old prince played with handcuffs and a slinky as well.