Prince George Turns 13 With Sun-Soaked Beach Birthday Celebration

Prince George marked his 13th birthday with a rare glimpse of relaxed family life, as Kensington Palace shared a short new video showing the young royal enjoying a coastal break in Cornwall. In the 18-second clip, released on Wednesday, the Prince and Princess of Wales’s eldest son is seen scrambling barefoot over rocks, playing cricket, spending time on the beach with Prince Louis and gently petting one of the family’s dogs as it rests in the sand. The future king also appears on a boat ride and smiles for the camera while wearing the £157 Raen sunglasses royal fans recently spotted on him at Wimbledon. The Waleses posted the footage alongside a message thanking well-wishers for George’s birthday greetings. Earlier in the day, William and Kate also shared a formal new portrait of their son, taken after Trooping the Colour, with the simple caption: “Happy 13th birthday, George!”

The birthday photograph, captured at Kensington Palace by trusted royal photographer Matt Porteous, signals a notable coming-of-age moment for Prince George. Now officially a teenager, he is preparing for a significant change in September when he begins boarding at Eton College. The move will see George follow the educational path of his father, Prince William, who formed lasting friendships during his own time at the prestigious school. It will also be the first time since 2019 that George has gone to school without either Princess Charlotte or Prince Louis by his side.

While George’s public profile is still carefully managed by Prince William and Princess Catherine, the young royal has gradually been taking part in more official appearances as he grows older. He was most recently seen with his family at Wimbledon earlier this month, though he is not expected to return to the public spotlight until the new school term begins. For now, George, Charlotte and Louis are enjoying their summer break. George has now completed his time at Lambrook School, the private co-educational prep school in Berkshire where he sometimes boarded, before moving on to the all-boys Eton College, where annual fees exceed £65,000.

As the eldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, George has grown up in the public eye since his first appearance outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in London. Wrapped in his parents’ arms, the newborn Prince George Alexander Louis was introduced to the world as Catherine, wearing a pale blue summer dress, stood beside William on the hospital steps. More than a decade later, royal supporters were quick to react to his latest birthday image, with many expressing disbelief at how mature he now looks. One X user summed up the mood by asking how he could already be a teenager.

Birthday messages poured in across social media, with one fan wishing Prince George a happy 13th and hoping he had spent the day surrounded by family and friends. Similar comments followed his appearance at Trooping the Colour last month, when he joined members of the Royal Family to celebrate King Charles’s official birthday. George appeared composed and self-assured as he waved to crowds from the carriage on the way to Buckingham Palace, seated with his mother, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Royal watchers also noted how tall he looked when he accompanied Catherine to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Footage shared by Kensington Palace from that visit showed mother and son examining aircraft, with George standing only slightly shorter than Catherine, who is around 5ft 9in. His height has become a frequent talking point among royal fans, especially after the Royal Family’s traditional Easter service in April, where some predicted he could soon overtake his mother. One social media user remarked at the time that it was hard to believe how tall Prince George was becoming while still only 12.

Another fan joked that time needed to slow down, pointing out how noticeable George’s height was even with Catherine wearing heels. Ahead of the young prince’s milestone birthday, royal commentator Robert Jobson told the Daily Mail that George’s arrival at Eton will be very different from Prince William’s experience. Jobson said William began at the school at 14 while carrying the strain of his parents’ troubled marriage, whereas George is entering this next phase from a much more settled family environment. He added that William and Catherine have made every effort to support their eldest son as he prepares for the transition.

According to Jobson, George previously asked his parents if he could board weekly at Lambrook, a step they supported because it helped him gain confidence and feel part of a wider school community. The royal expert also described George as bright and particularly interested in history, recalling William’s admission last October that his son often knows historical dates better than he does. George is also said to enjoy football and hockey, the latter a sport closely associated with his mother. Like his father, he supports Aston Villa and has been seen cheering enthusiastically in public.

‘He has not been spared pain. He watched his mother fight and beat cancer. He watched his grandfather live with it. He has emerged steadier. ‘Eton will be a challenge, but being close to home, in the shadow of Windsor Castle will help. ‘As he steps out in his tailcoat, false collar, he will look a picture. ‘But the environment will protect him like it did his father who thrived there. ‘Then time. A great deal of it, let us hope, for George’s sake.’ George’s birthday comes after his last public outing to the Wimbledon finals along with his parents and sister Charlotte.

The siblings won the hearts of royal fans as they dashed out of the Royal Box at Centre Court to grab sunhats when temperatures in London rose to 29C on the final day of the Championships. Photos showed George using a handheld fan as he watched Jannik Sinner defeat Alexander Zverev in the final match of the tournament. After settling in, it appeared the scorching heat had affected the young royal, with George pictured using a white portable fan similar to the one used by his mother on the previous day for the women’s final.

The young prince looked rosy-cheeked as he kept himself cool and hydrated during the incredibly warm weather. It was a fun-filled day for George and Charlotte, who were spotted laughing and chatting with each other while wearing hats and sunglasses – while the youngest Wales child, Louis, who turned eight earlier this year, was notably absent. Prince George’s 12th birthday portrait was taken by royal photographer Josh Shinner in Norfolk. In the picture, George is dressed in a white checked shirt layered with a khaki gilet, as he leans over a wooden gate and smiles for the camera. The year before that, Kensington Palace shared a black-and-white photo of George, looking smart in a suit, when he turned 11.