Why people are furious about Prince George's latest royal milestone

Prince George and his family are back in the spotlight after a weekend hunting trip. Photo / Getty Images

It's hard to imagine Prince George at the centre of a public furore, but that's exactly where the cute five-year-old has landed, thanks to his actions on a royal family holiday.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had spent the weekend recently at the Queen's Scottish estate, Balmoral Castle, with their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and baby Prince Louis.

According to royal correspondent Emily Andrews, Kate Middleton took her eldest son George on his first grouse hunt, along with several other members of the family including the Queen and Prince Charles.

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

It's understood the group was hunting birds, a well-established Scottish tradition.

Plenty of Twitter users were furious at the report, with one even accusing Prince William of hypocrisy.

The tweet read: "Prince William, in October of last year, made a speech warning us that 'global wildlife populations have halved in his lifetime.'

"Today, we learn he took his son, Prince George, on his first grouse shoot."

Staggered and disappointed to read that Prince George was taken by his mother to his first Grouse shoot to watch Prince William last week.@ChrisGPackham @MarkAvery

— ROBERT BULLOCK (@ROBERTB75975566) August 27, 2018

One user wrote: "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."

Another described it as "extremely sad".

"It's extremely sad that when so many of us, young people, are working hard to reach younger kids and instil the idea that all life is precious; that nature is full of wonder and can teach us so much about compassion … then you have this."

A different user even offered up a suggestion for Prince George's father Prince William: "He could have taken him bird watching rather than celebrate bird killing."

However, there were some defending the royals' decision.

So Prince George has been taken to a Grouse shoot and people are outraged. Odds on many of the same folk eat meat. Far better to kill and eat a bird raised in the wild, shot with no knowledge of what's coming than eat a factory farmed chicken/pig. Misplaced outrage in my opinion.

— Dawn Stevens (@dawnestevens1) August 26, 2018

People attacking Prince George for attending a grouse shoot will say how cruel it is. Earlier they will have eaten a Sunday roast, may have a burger tonight or Fish and Chips, but that's ok

— adrian whitby (@93629362) August 26, 2018