Prince George Turns 13 as New Royal Portrait Captures His Incredible Transformation
On Wednesday, Kensington Palace shared a new portrait of young Prince George as he celebrated his milestone birthday.
Prince George is officially a teenager, and Kensington Palace marked the milestone by releasing a new portrait of the future king. The birthday photograph quickly drew attention as George appeared more grown-up than ever. The milestone comes ahead of a major new chapter in his life, with the young prince expected to begin his education at Eton College later this year.
On Wednesday, the Palace penned a birthday message that read, "Happy 13th Birthday, George!" The image was taken by photographer Matt Porteous, who has worked with Prince William and Princess Kate on several occasions. In the image, the young Prince is seen smiling at the camera, relaxed with his hands in his pockets, his shirt collar open and his tie removed after attending Trooping the Colour parade.
The portrait was taken shortly after the annual event, where George appeared alongside his parents and siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. As per reports, George's birthday this year is expected to be a private family celebration with only his parents, siblings and close ones in attendance. No official details of the family's plans have been announced.
The private celebrations, some good old family time, come ahead of a major change in George's life. The young Prince is expected to start at Eton College in the coming months, following in the footsteps of his father. The move will mark the beginning of his secondary education and a new stage in his royal journey.
As George turns 13, he has been gradually taking on a more public role as he prepares for his future within the monarchy. Over the past year, he has accompanied his dad, William, on several official engagements, including helping at a charity supporting people experiencing homelessness during the Christmas period.
The clearest example of his growing role was perhaps when he joined William and Kate for VE Day celebrations. George was most recently also seen posing alongside Kate for a photo-op during a visit to an airbase.
