It feels like only yesterday the world stood outside St Mary’s Hospital waiting for a first glance at a future king. Now, Prince George is officially a teenager.
To mark his 13th birthday on 22 July, the Prince and Princess of Wales released a sleek new portrait of their eldest child. Taken by photographer Matt Porteous at Kensington Palace following last month’s Trooping the Colour, the portrait captures a noticeably grown-up George. Dressed in a dark suit and crisp white shirt, the young royal looks like the spitting image of his father, Prince William.
While the official portrait kept things strictly formal, William and Kate also gave the public a rare peek into their personal lives with an accompanying family video clip. The footage shows a much more relaxed side to royal life, featuring George scrambling along a rocky beach, playing cricket, and spending time with younger siblings Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, not to mention the family dog.
This milestone birthday carries a bit of extra weight for the young prince. Beyond officially entering his teenage years, George is preparing for his next big chapter: attending Eton College. Following in the footsteps of Prince William, the boarding school transition marks a significant step towards his eventual public role.
For now, though, he appears to be enjoying the remainder of his summer break before the term starts. It is safe to say time is moving remarkably fast for the Wales family, and the internet is feeling rather old watching the future monarch grow up in real time.
