Prince George Looks More Grown Up Than Ever in New Photo Shared on His 13th Birthday
Prince George Looks More Grown Up Than Ever in New Photo Shared on His 13th Birthday
Rachel BurchfieldWed, July 22, 2026 at 10:32 AM UTC
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Prince George at Wimbledon on July 12, 2026.Credit: GettyThe Gist -
Prince George celebrates a significant birthday on July 22.
The future king is now the milestone age of 13 years old, and he is celebrating roughly two months before he reaches another milestone in September—heading off to Eton College.
To celebrate, George’s parents Prince William and Kate Middleton shared a new photo of the teenage future king on social media.
It’s a big day in the royal family today—unbelievably, Prince George turns 13 years old, a milestone age for the young man who will one day become king.
To mark the occasion, on July 22 George’s parents Prince William and Kate Middleton shared a new photo of their eldest son, looking as grown up as ever in a dark suit and an open-collar white shirt, his hands in his pockets. The photo was taken by trusted Wales family photographer Matt Porteous on the stairs at Kensington Palace after Trooping the Colour last month.
“Happy 13th Birthday, George 🎉 ,” the post read.
Along with George turning the milestone age of 13, he is also set to take the major step of starting school at Eton College in September—making this summer especially poignant, as he will live full time at the all-boys boarding school and no longer at Forest Lodge with the Prince and Princess of Wales and his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Over the years, George has been undertaking more and more royal engagements, sometimes with one of both of his siblings, and sometimes solo with either his father or mother. Royal biographer Russell Myers said that George “seems to have grown in confidence over the last couple of years,” and told Peoplethat, when it comes to George undertaking royal duties, “It’s a slow game, and it gets him used to it on the couple’s terms rather than anybody else’s.”
A source told the outlet that William and Kate “would want him to focus on having freedom before giving him any royal titles,” and a close palace insider told the publication that George is “the most normal” future monarch “we have ever had.”
“And that is a very good thing,” the insider added.
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Prince George on Easter Sunday on April 5, 2026.Credit: Getty
Royal historian Robert Lacey told People, “I imagine that when William talks to George about things like this, he uses words like ‘destiny’ rather than ‘duty.’ ‘Duty’ has a sense of being trapped; ‘destiny’ has a sense of choice.”
According to an insider, George “comes across as a serious chap. To have the world’s eyes on you, especially when you’re so young, is demanding.” People added of the future king that “those who know him well say he also has a playful streak.”
George has been raised with as normal a childhood as possible given the circumstances, and royal biographer Robert Hardman told Hello! that William and Kate have “always been very clear about pacing it, not making the children do anything that puts them off the idea of being royal in the future. It’s a case of including him in things that he’ll enjoy, but that also touch on his life to come.”
Prince George at Wimbledon on July 12, 2026.Credit: Getty
A palace insider previously speaking to People called it “a massive balancing act,” adding that “William and Kate are doing the right thing, protecting him so he can have as normal a childhood as possible, but he’s also dipping into duties as a future monarch.”
“He’s getting firsthand experience of what it’s like to be a royal and a monarch and firsthand experience of being a normal boy,” the source added.
Prince George at Trooping the Colour on June 13, 2026.Credit: Getty
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward called George “a very impressive young man,” adding that William “is very conscious of not wanting George to be seen as an elitist kid—he just wants him to be as ordinary as he can be.”
“I remember [the Princess of Wales] once saying that they always discuss these appearances with George, that he is never pushed,” Seward told The Telegraph. “William is doing what he can to get him to look at the world in a certain way…And William is happy for him to have a taste of it, but not the full meal.”
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