Prince George’s 13th Birthday Portrait Signals a Major New Chapter as He Follows in Prince William’s Footsteps

Meredith KileWed, July 22, 2026 at 3:34 PM UTC

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Prince George’s 13 birthday portrait; Prince William, 13, attends the VJ Day 50th anniversary celebrations in LondonCredit: The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram; Antony Jones/Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty -

Prince George turned 13 on Wednesday, July 22

To mark the special day, the royal family released a new portrait of the young heir in a suit and dress shirt

The milestone birthday comes as George is preparing to leave home to begin his school at Eton, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William

Prince George is officially a teenager — and his 13th birthday portrait suggests he’s entering a new royal era.

In a navy suit and crisp white shirt, the future King looks strikingly similar to his father, Prince William, at the same age, when he was preparing to begin life at Eton College in 1995. The side-by-side images capture more than a family resemblance. They mark another moment where George is following the same carefully charted path as his father, from boarding school to the gradual transition into public life.

Gone are the playful polos, sweaters and soccer jerseys of birthdays past. In their place is a tailored suit — a quiet but unmistakable signal that George is stepping into a new chapter. The formal portrait — taken in June immediately following Trooping the Colour by photographer by Matt Porteous at Kensington Palace — is in contrast to the more casual birthday photos shared for his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, earlier this year.

As he prepares for life at Eton this fall, the portrait projects a more mature image of the future monarch, while still preserving the relaxed smile that has become a hallmark of the Wales family’s birthday photographs.

George is preparing for some significant milestones as he enters his teen years. This fall, he will begin his studies at Eton College, following in the footsteps of both his dad and his uncle, Prince Harry, at the prestigious all-boys boarding school.

While some royal watchers expected Prince William and Kate Middleton to choose a more modern secondary education for their eldest — perhaps a co-ed institution that would allow him to continue attending school with both of his siblings — Kensington Palace confirmed on June 16 that Eton was the choice for the next future king.

“Eton was a much-needed haven for William,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE last month, following the announcement. “It will give George a rigorous education that he will need for his role.”

Plus, a source close to the family added, “George has always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps.”

Prince William on his first day at Eton College, Sept. 7, 1995Credit: Antony Jones/UK Press via Getty

Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, all-boys Eton costs about $80,000 a year and has educated generations of leaders, including 20 prime ministers and many other members of the British royal family.

While the name is synonymous with the posh, white sons of the British aristocracy, Bedell Smith insisted, “Yes, Eton stands for tradition, but it has moved with the times and now has a more diverse student body than it had—even in William’s day.”

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She added that she believes William and Kate ultimately made their choice because of Eton’s “academic excellence and the many ways it develops its students for leadership roles.”

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Another benefit is keeping George close to home. Eton is just 15 miles from the Wales family’s new residence at Forest Lodge on the Windsor estate. While he will board with his schoolmates during the week, George will be able to return home on designated weekends, and parents are encouraged to attend sporting events, performances and other school activities.

William remembered the school’s proximity to Windsor fondly during his candid appearance on The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy last year. He recalled having “the best teas” with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, when he was able to get away from his studies for a quick visit to the castle.

After carefully guarding his childhood years, in recent months, William and Kate have begun including George in a more expanded royal role during carefully chosen events.

Last May, the prince joined his parents at a Buckingham Palace tea party King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted for veterans and members of the World War II generation. George’s surprise appearance marked a major milestone as his first time appearing at such a formal function.

He was photographed at the event following William and Kate’s lead as they engaged with the guests and shared respectful handshakes with some of the veterans.

Prince George and Prince William speak with World War II veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 5, 2025Credit: Jordan Pettitt - WPA Pool/Getty

His appearance at the tea exemplifies the importance William and Kate have placed on gradually introducing their children — especially George, as the heir — to the royal duties they are expected to inherit one day.

“It’s a massive balancing act,” a palace insider previously told PEOPLE about the Prince and Princess of Wales’ approach to raising their eldest to be a future king.

“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,” the insider said. “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.”

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