Can it really be 13 years since Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, stood on the steps of a London hospital, cradling their firstborn son, Prince George? Now, the second in line to the throne is officially a teen — and the royal family has celebrated the milestone with a new photo of him.
The young prince was photographed at his London home, Kensington Palace, in a portrait taken last month after the annual Trooping the Colour, the U.K. monarch's official birthday celebration.
The image shows George smiling at the camera in an open-necked white shirt and dark suit, as he stands with his hands in his pockets. It was shared on William and Kate's social media accounts with the caption, "Happy 13th Birthday, George! 🎉"
While Kate, an avid photographer, has taken a number of official photographs of her family, she wasn't behind the lens on this occasion. Instead, the snap was taken by Matt Porteous, one of the family's go-to professional photographers.
Kensington Palace also shared a video compilation of George, thanking the public for "all the birthday wishes for George today!" In the video, shared to Instagram, the young royal is seen spending time outdoors with his siblings, playing cricket and stroking his dog on the beach, as well as enjoying a boat ride and clambering over rocks barefoot.
George, who is on summer vacation from school, was last seen in the royal box at Wimbledon as he joined his parents and 11-year-old sister, Princess Charlotte, for the men's singles final. In September, he will start at a new school, following in the footsteps of William and Prince Harry by attending Britain's prestigious Eton College, minutes from his family home in Windsor, England.
Look back on his life so far with a photograph from every year.
2013: George outside the hospital with his parents
The likely future king was born at 4:24 p.m., weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces (3.8 kg). He made his first public appearance at just a day old, swaddled in a merino wool shawl in his mother's arms on the steps of St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London.
2014: George's 1st birthday
To mark his first birthday, George and his parents were photographed enjoying a butterfly exhibit at London's Natural History Museum. The photos showed the world that the young royal was already toddling around in his striped Petit Bateau overalls. George later celebrated with a Peter Rabbit-themed party.
2015: George gets a sibling
In 2015, George hit another milestone: he became a big brother. Two months before his second birthday, he welcomed his sister, Charlotte, visiting her in the hospital with his dad.
2016: George meets Barack Obama
Few kids meet a president — let alone before the age of four — but George did. The toddler shook hands with Barack Obama when the then-president visited Kensington Palace with Michelle Obama during an April 2016 trip to the U.K. George stayed up late to thank the couple for his present: a large wooden rocking horse.
2017: George starts school
Looking understandably unsure, George held his dad's hand before his first day of school at Thomas's Battersea in London. Kate was unable to attend because of severe sickness during her pregnancy. Instead, George held hands with Helen Haslem, the head of the lower school.
2018: George plays a role at Meghan and Harry's wedding
George was a page boy for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May 2018, marking the occasion by wearing long pants, rather than shorts, in public for the first time. He beamed from ear to ear in the official photographs — after being bribed with candy by photographer Alexi Lubomirski.
2019: George and his siblings on the Buckingham Palace balcony
In 2019, Louis made his Trooping the Colour debut, giving the public a first glimpse of all five members of William and Kate's family together on the Buckingham Palace balcony. While his siblings appeared animated by the Royal Air Force flyover, George looked more subdued and serious.
2020: George walks a red carpet
At a Christmas performance in London, held to thank essential workers and their families for their efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire Wales family made a a rare red carpet appearance. George, holding his dad's hand, wore a preppy red-and-navy striped Ralph Lauren sweater for the occasion.
2021: George joins his dad in the stands
Wearing a suit and tie, George joined both parents at the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament in June 2021, where his dad William attended in his role as president of the Football Association, England's soccer governing body. The after-school outing was capped by an England win.
2022: George's siblings join him at school
In September 2022, George and Charlotte were joined at school for the first time by little brother Louis. The trio walked in together in their uniforms, accompanied by their parents.
2023: George attends King Charles's coronation
Dressed in formal attire as a Page of Honour (a ceremonial role) at King Charles's coronation, George was the spitting image of his father in a knee-length scarlet coat with gold trim.
2024: George matches Louis at Trooping the Colour
In their first public appearance of the year after Kate announced her cancer diagnosis, George and his brother Louis wore matching double-breasted blazers to Trooping the Colour.
2025: George marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day
George and his siblings made another Buckingham Palace balcony appearance in 2025 for Britain's commemorations of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day).