Kensington Palace marked Prince George’s birthday with a new video and a new photograph as he turned 13. The release shows the son of the Prince and Princess of Wales in coastal scenes and in a more formal portrait, two images that point to the next stage of his public life.
The video was shot in Cornwall at Easter and shows Prince George smiling, waving at the camera in sunglasses, playing cricket on the beach and climbing rocks. Kensington Palace paired it with the message, “Thank you for all the birthday wishes for George today!”
Matt Porteous portrait
On Wednesday, Kensington Palace published a second image taken by Matt Porteous at Kensington Palace last month, straight after the Trooping the Colour ceremony. In that photograph, George stands with his hands in his pockets, wearing an open-necked white shirt and dark suit, while the caption reads, “Happy 13th birthday, George!”
The timing matters because George is expected to start secondary school in September and go to Eton College, following Prince William’s path. Eton College usually begins entry at age 13, and William spoke of enjoying his time there when he was 18.
Prince George in Cornwall
The birthday release also fits a wider shift in how George is presented. He joined King Charles and other senior royals for the Trooping the Colour parade in London in June, and the new birthday picture is more formal than last year’s image. The move from beach video to suited portrait shows a teenager who is being shown in a more public role while still being kept within carefully staged family moments.
George previously studied at Lambrook School in Berkshire alongside Charlotte and Louis. The September move to Eton College places him at a school close to where the family lives on the Windsor estate, making the transition both practical and public. Whether Prince George has finalized his move to Eton College and which boarding house he will enter is not answered.
