Prince George, the eldest child of Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales, has turned 13. The second in line to the British throne celebrated his birthday on Wednesday.
Kensington Palace marked the occasion by releasing a new photograph of the young prince. The image, taken by photographer Matt Porteous in June at Kensington Palace, shows a smiling George with his hands in the pockets of a dark suit. The palace shared the photo on social media with the caption, "Happy 13th Birthday, George! 🎉"
A video was also shared, depicting Prince George playing outside and climbing rocks on a beach with his younger brother, Prince Louis. "Thank you for all the birthday wishes for George today!🎂," the palace wrote accompanying the video.
Born on July 22, 2013, at London's St Mary's Hospital, Prince George is the eldest grandchild of King Charles III. He has two younger siblings: Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8. Prince George's birth marked a significant global event due to his parents' positions as heir to the throne and his own place in the line of succession.
Recently, Prince George was seen publicly on July 12 alongside his parents and sister at the men's final of the Wimbledon tennis championships. As he has grown older, George has participated in engagements with his parents, reflecting his advancing age and his future role.
In June, Kate and George attended a joint engagement at RAF Coningsby in honor of Armed Forces Day. The previous December, George accompanied his father, Prince William, to The Passage, a London charity that assists individuals experiencing homelessness, to help prepare the organization's annual Christmas lunch.
This upcoming school year will bring another significant milestone for Prince George, as he is set to follow in his father's footsteps by attending Eton College in September. The esteemed boys' boarding school is located near Windsor Castle, and students are expected to board as it does not have day students. For the past several years, Prince George has attended Lambrook School, a prep school in Berkshire, England, with his siblings, while living at home. Eton College is situated a short 15-minute drive from the Wales family's home.