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For most 12-year-olds, birthdays mean cake, presents and being forced to write an endless list of thank you cards.
But for Prince George, this year’s birthday marks more than just a family celebration.
Over the last decade, the world has watched him grow from a cheeky toddler into a charming young man.
Today, his 12th birthday marks a significant step towards his future role as King.
On July 22, 2013, a wood-and-gold easel announced the birth of Prince William and Princess Catherine’s first child.
The bells of Westminster Abbey rang out, landmarks were illuminated blue to symbolise the birth of a boy and gun salutes marked the occasion in London, Bermuda, New Zealand and Canada.
The most eager royal observers and members of the press camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, keen to catch a glimpse of their future King before anybody else.
From his first royal tour to his favourite football team, here are 12 things you may not have known about Prince George.
Over the last decade, the world has watched Prince George grow from a cheeky toddler into a charming young man
On July 22, 2013, a wood-and-gold easel announced the birth of Prince William and Princess Catherine’s first child
Prince Louis (L) and Prince George leave Buckingham Palace ahead of Trooping the Colour ceremony on June 14, 2025
He almost had a different name
William and Kate are pictured arriving at Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace, ahead of the christening of the three month-old George (pictured)
It was a name that was touted as one of the clear favourites by bookmakers and given the history of the monarchy – and in particular the House of Windsor – William and Kate naming their son George came as no surprise.
Sharing a name with his great great grandfather – the Queen’s father George VI – the name followed in a long tradition.
But he almost had a different name.
It was reported that the Waleses considered naming their son Alexander which Kate ‘had her heart on’.
Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl wrote in Vanity Fair that although ‘Kate apparently suspected it was a boy and had set her heart on the name Alexander, they had not yet decided what to call their firstborn’ ahead of his birth.
Instead, they referred to him as a sweet nickname, ‘our little grape.’
The Times reported that the royal couple wrote their favourite names on pieces of paper, put them on the floor of their home, and let their cocker spaniel, Lupo, decide which one was the winner – down to what piece of paper he went to first.
However, the name Alexander, ended up being included in George’s full name – Prince George Alexander Louis.
He will be the third George from the House of Windsor to take the throne should he keep the name when he eventually takes the crown.
His birth made history
Three generations are pictured together at this year’s Trooping the Colour
When George was born on 22nd July 2013, it marked the second time that three generations in the line of succession have been alive simultaneously.
The only other time that this has happened was during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Prince Charles’ visit to the hospital to see his new grandson was also an historic moment as it is believed to be the first time three direct male heirs to the throne had come together in more than 100 years.
First royal tour at nine months old
Kate, William and George look on before boarding a Royal Australian Air Force plane for their flight to Australia at Wellington Airport’s military terminal April 16, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand
At just nine months old, George began his royal duties and accompanied his parents on their royal tour of New Zealand and Australia in April 2014.
Only appearing twice during the tour, nevertheless he was dubbed as ‘the star of the show’.
The then Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott predicted in the Parliament House, Canberra, that George would one day be welcomed there as King of Australia.
William, Catherine and George meet a Bilby called George as they visit Taronga Zoo on April 20, 2014, in Sydney, Australia
Australian media called him ‘the republican slayer’, after polls showed the lowest support for republicanism in the country for 35 years
He loves thunderstorms
William, George and Charlotte brave the rain at Sandringham
While many children, pets and even adults are scared of thunderstorms, George apparently loves them.
This was revealed when Kate visited a children’s hospital where a boy told her a storm was coming.
She replied: ‘Yes, I know all about those. George likes storms, too!’
He’s an Alcaraz fan
George and Charlotte look downcast at Wimbledon. It has been widely reported that the children are major fans of Alacaraz, who lost the match in four sets
At this year’s Wimbledon tennis tournament, footage of George and his sister Charlotte went viral as the royal siblings looking disappointed after the the men’s final.
The future King and his sister joined their parents in the royal box at SW19 to watch Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz take on Italian Jannik Sinner.
It has been widely reported that the children are major fans of Alacaraz, who lost the match in four sets.
Their love of tennis may have been inspired by the Princess of Wales, who is patron of the All England Lawn and Tennis Club, also known as the AELTC (which organises the day-to-day running of the prestigious tournament).
As part of her duties, Kate, who has held the post since 2016, presents the trophy to the tournament’s winner.
It was during the presentation that the royal children looked downcast, adopting similar poses as they stood with their arms resting on the wall of the royal box.
He has flown a plane
William talks to George as the stand in front of the RAF Arrows aircraft, during a visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford – the world’s largest military airshow in July 2016
The young Prince took his first flying lesson at the age of 11 and flew a single-engine Piper PA-28 with dual controls, a plane designed for flight training.
His parents watched him take off and land at White Waltham Airfield near Maidenhead.
Onlookers watched George in flight, one of whom told the Sun: ‘He loved it. It’s the right time to start. The royal family has a proud tradition of flying and it looks like George is next in line.’
William and Catherine with George, Charlotte and Louis board a C17 place during their visit to the Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford on July 14, 2023 in Fairford
Another person present at the airfield said: ‘There were probably 30 or 40 people in the clubhouse. Catherine and William watched George take off. But they were relaxed about it. All three of them had been pretty chilled in the clubhouse.’
Flying has been a longstanding tradition among the Royal Family, although Prince George has started to learn much earlier than his father and grandfather.
William began aged 27 when he was training with the Royal Air Force, and later served with the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Prince Philip started training aged 31 and was awarded his ‘wings’ by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir William Dickson at a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 1953.
He’s expected to go to Eton
Prince George will likely attend his father’s alma mater when he turns 13
Rumours have been swirling about which senior school the Prince and Princess of Wales will choose for George when he turns 13.
Although William and Kate were spotted looking around a number of top schools, Eton and rival Marlborough College were clear front-runners.
Eton – the alma mater of Prince William, where fees are more than £63,000 a year – is conveniently near the family home in Windsor.
While Prince William thrived there, his brother, Prince Harry, discovered that it was the wrong choice for him
Meanwhile, Kate is known to have flourished at Marlborough, and the co-ed school would allow Princess Charlotte to join her elder brother.
But a well-placed palace source told The Mail on Sunday ‘all roads lead to Eton’.
He has seven godparents
Oliver Baker (centre) with partner Mel and Michael Tindall (right) arrive at Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace, central London for the christening of Prince George on October 23, 2013
Royal babies traditionally have about six godparents.
William and Kate, like Princess Diana, chose George’s godparents to be a blend of traditional and more modern choices.
His godparents are; Zara Tindall, Julia Samuel (a close friend of Princess Diana), Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who met Kate during their school days at Marlborough College, Oliver Baker (a friend from St Andrews, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, who worked as a Private Secretary to Prince William and Kate until 2013 and William van Cutsem, the son of King Charles’ late friend Hugh van Cutsem.
Aston Villa fan, like his Pa!
George and William are seen during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa FC
In April, George looked like William’s ‘mini me’ as they enjoyed a five goal thriller at Villa Park as they watched their beloved Aston Villa face off against Paris Saint-Germain in a nail-biting Champions League clash.
He was seen jumping out of his seat to cheer for Aston Villa as well as mirroring his dad’s nervous expressions when the team was behind.
During William and George’s trip to Paris, William said he loves bonding with his son over their shared love of football.
‘I want George to experience a night out away from home in a big European competition,’ William said.
‘I think those memories are really important to create.’
George even dressed like his dad by wearing an Aston Villa scarf!
He can no longer travel with William
George and his father will have to fly separately now the young prince has turned 12
His 12th birthday marks a major milestone, which will also see a centuries-old royal rule that his own father also had to follow come into force.
According to the protocol, two heirs to the throne cannot fly together when undertaking royal duties.
The royal custom dictates that anyone over 12 years old in the line of succession cannot travel together for safety reasons.
He has an unusual nickname
Prince George gained the nickname PG Tips – like the tea! He is pictured at a tea party for veterans and members of the Second World War generation
During his time at Thomas’s School, George was given the nickname P.G. by his classmates.
Kate and William reportedly adopted the nickname, affectionately referring to their firstborn as PG Tips, as in the tea!
A King for a new age
Two heirs! William and George in the royal box in centre court during the men’s singles final at Wimbledon
To top off all these facts, George was the first future King born in the 21st century!
His father, William, was born in 1982 and his grandfather, Charles, was born in 1948.
