Responses
That's true, and from what I read, it seems like his behavior is due to his personal aide and he seems exhausted from studying too much.
Also, the only people around him are nobles and his parents (who are probably very busy and have little time with him).
He seems to be alone most of the time, so he probably doesn't learn much about how to act around most people.
I think the prince is being physically and psychologically abused. Maybe he thought that being hit after making a mistake is the norm. Most kids who hit others easily are kids that are shown to act that way by adults around them. Not saying that the prince was right. Just saying that kids follows adult as examples of behaviors.