Prince George has officially entered his teenage years, and the Prince and Princess of Wales have marked the milestone by giving royal fans one of their biggest behind-the-scenes glimpses of the young future king in years.
To celebrate George’s 13th birthday, Prince William and Princess Catherine released not only a new official portrait, but also a series of relaxed family images and video footage showing the young royal enjoying time outdoors with his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The birthday portrait shows George looking every bit the teenager in a black jacket and open-collared white shirt, smiling confidently at the camera. But it was the additional footage that delighted royal watchers most.
The candid scenes show George scrambling over rocks, walking along the beach, laughing with his brother and sister and playing cricket – a rare look at the family’s private life away from royal engagements.
The Prince and Princess of Wales shared the simple message: “Happy 13th Birthday, George!”
The unusually generous collection of images reflects how William and Catherine have gradually become more comfortable sharing carefully curated moments from family life while continuing to fiercely protect their children’s privacy.
George’s birthday also marks the beginning of an important new chapter. In September he is expected to begin studies at Eton College, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, as he slowly takes on greater responsibilities as second in line to the British throne.
Despite his growing public profile, William and Catherine have long been determined to give George, Charlotte and Louis as normal a childhood as possible. Public appearances remain relatively rare and are usually reserved for major royal occasions such as Trooping the Colour, Wimbledon and significant national celebrations.
Royal experts say that careful balance has become even more important now George is a teenager, with his parents mindful of the intense public scrutiny experienced by previous generations of the royal family.
For royal fans, though, the birthday celebration was simply a chance to watch a familiar face growing up. The flood of new images prompted an outpouring of comments online from people amazed at how quickly George has gone from the baby introduced on the steps of St Mary’s Hospital to a confident young teenager preparing for secondary school.
As one chapter closes and another begins, the message from Kensington Palace was unmistakable: Britain’s future king is growing up.
Images: Instagram
