Prince George and British Sign Language: Continuing Princess Diana's Legacy
Princess Diana's compassion and dedication to charity resonated globally, particularly her ability to connect with people from all walks of life. This legacy may continue with her grandson, Prince George, through the potential learning of British Sign Language (BSL). During an investiture at Windsor Castle, Prince William's conversation with Wendy Daunt, a teacher from the Royal School for the Deaf, sparked an idea regarding Prince George and BSL.
A Touching Memory of Princess Diana
Wendy Daunt, during the investiture where she was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), shared a touching memory of Princess Diana. Using an interpreter, Daunt recounted the profound impact Princess Diana had on the deaf community when she attended the 1990 British Deaf Association conference. "I wanted to tell him how proud the deaf community were of his mother, Princess Diana," Daunt told the BBC.
Daunt recalled how Princess Diana "came on stage to receive a book, and she signed in BSL and the deaf people were so amazed and in awe of this," the teacher continued. "A royal person had actually accepted our language." Wendy added of the gesture, "The respect for BSL that she gave, we've kept that all these years and will never forget that".
Daunt also shared a personal moment: "Deaf culture is we always have a hug so I quickly said, without thinking, 'Can I have a hug?'"
A Suggestion for the Next Generation
Inspired by this memory, Daunt suggested to Prince William that his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, "learn to sign." While she noted that Prince William's "face said, 'I'm not sure,'" he did say, "maybe Prince George would like to."
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The Prince of Wales even suggested that Daunt could give the 11-year-old prince lessons on British Sign Language (BSL). "Prince William did say that I could teach Prince George BSL," she revealed.
The Benefits of Learning BSL
Learning BSL could offer numerous benefits to Prince George. It would align with one of Princess Kate's goals for her children. During a 2018 encounter with a fan, the princess said her Italian was "so bad" and added, "I have to make sure my children are better than me, that's my aim." For Prince George, it's especially important for him to know multiple languages for his eventual role as King, when he'll regularly interact with global leaders.
Daunt, however, believes that a peer might be a more suitable instructor. "But I think it would be better for a younger person, a boy of his own age perhaps to teach him football signs. I would like Prince George to be friends with deaf children," she added. This approach could foster a deeper understanding of deaf culture and promote inclusivity.
Education and Future Interactions
Currently, Prince George's school curriculum includes French and Latin, with Greek offered as an option for older students. The addition of BSL would further broaden his linguistic skills and cultural awareness.
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