The Prince and Princess of Wales marked their oldest son’s 12th birthday by sharing a charming portrait of Prince George pictured outdoors, smiling and relaxed as he leaned on a rustic wooden gate in Norfolk.
Delighted royal fans were quick to point out the resemblance between the future King and his father, Prince William, at that age.
Yet it’s not only their facial features that are similar – they share the same destiny to one day lead Britain’s Royal Family and become a reigning monarch.
But while his father apparently had ‘King lessons’ from the late Queen Elizabeth II during his school days, Prince George won’t be rushed into any kind of formal royal training, according to the Editor in Chief of Majesty magazine, Ingrid Seward.
The royal biographer told FEMAIL: ‘[Kate and William] won’t push [George] as there is no need to do so. They are not those sorts of parents, but they will encourage him when he shows an interest.’
She continued: ‘Prince George is learning to be an adult and to think about himself in new and challenging ways. His parents will include him as much as they feel is right. That way he can gradually get used to the idea of what his future might hold.
‘They already take him to the sort of public engagements he might enjoy as we have seen with the Buckingham Palace tea for the veterans and the sporting events he attends with his father.
‘He will continue to be asked his opinion on things,’ claimed the royal biographer.
In May, George, second in line to the throne after his father, was provided with a small taste of his future duties as King as he attended a tea party at Buckingham Palace without his siblings Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven.
The young royal, who is usually joined by his siblings for public engagements, was polite and listened attentively as he made a surprise appearance, and spoke with veterans to commemorate VE Day.
Dressed in a smart suit with a blue tie, William and Kate’s eldest son beamed as he posed for photos with attendees and joined in conversation with guests.
‘A highly significant moment occurred when George attended a tea party for veterans given at Buckingham Palace during the VE Day 80 commemorations and chatted to them, it was unexpected but timely,’ royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told FEMAIL.
He added: ‘It will undoubtedly be followed by similar events, as it was considered a great success.’
‘George is blessed with parents who are determined to privately prepare him for his duties in as practical a way as possible and they will undoubtedly be supported by his grandparents too’, the royal expert claimed.
He continued: ‘Naturally we are not privy to this, but the background knowledge required for kingship is considerable and will also involve his responsibilities as Head of the Commonwealth, which is not automatic but very likely.’
Joe Little, Managing Editor at Majesty Magazine, echoed Mr Fitzwilliams thoughts that William and Kate will continue to privately prepare George for the crown before urging him onto the public stage more.
Prince George and the Princess of Wales join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace in May
Prince George and Prince William are seen during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa FC at Parc des Princes on April 09, 2025 in Paris
Prince George beams in a photo released to mark his 12th birthday. The young prince was photographed by Josh Shinner in April in Norfolk
He said: ‘We won’t be seeing a lot more of Prince George, or indeed his siblings, any time soon.
‘The Prince and Princess of Wales will continue to be selective about their children appearing in public.
‘Apart from set-piece occasions such as the King’s Birthday Parade, significant national events such as the VE-Day 80th anniversary commemorations and what now seems to be the annual trip to Wimbledon, their priority will be education and as much normality as their positions will allow.
‘George will be well aware of what lies ahead of him, and no doubt it’s a topic of discussion with his parents and grandparents, but it’s too soon for him to dive into it in a meaningful way.
‘He has the perhaps daunting prospect of a change of school in the autumn of 2026 and all the challenges that will present to process in the coming year.’
On Tuesday, a sweet film was released by the Prince and Princess of Wales to mark Prince George’s 12th birthday, showing him larking about with his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Filled with laughter, the clip showed the future King walking hand-in-hand with his sister and brother, while another adorable moment saw the two eldest royal children lift up the beaming youngest.
The joyous footage was captured behind-the-scenes of George’s birthday photoshoot, which took place earlier this year in Norfolk.
A sweet film was released to mark Prince George’s 12th birthday, showing him larking about with his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
George’s last public appearance prior to his 12th birthday was at SW19 for the Wimbledon men’s final, which he watched with his parents and sister Princess Charlotte (pictured)
King Charles III with his son Prince William and his grandson Prince George during the coronation
Earlier on Tuesday, Kensington Palace shared the new charming photograph of the young prince to celebrate his special day.
Looking as angelic as ever, George, who was born on July 22, 2013 at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, was all smiles as he posed for the picture in the British countryside.
Dressed in a white checked shirt layered with a khaki gilet, the prince leans over a wooden gate and smiles into the camera in the photo.
Adding a playful addition to his smart attire, George sported a friendship bracelet made of blue-coloured threads – in a Taylor Swift-inspired trend that he and his sister Charlotte have previously taken part in.
The snap, taken by one of the family’s favourite videographers and photographers, Josh Shinner, echoes Prince Louis’s seventh birthday portrait, released in April.
After delighting royal fans with the new snap of George, Kensington Palace then released the slick clip of the making of the sweet portrait.
George was first introduced to the world when his mother Kate and father William stepped out of the Lindo Wing with him in their arms.
Dressed in a summery powder blue frock, Kate glowed as she and William revealed their first child, George Alexander Louis, to the world.
George joins his father at an event in Buckingham Palace meeting World War Two veterans
George with his mother and two siblings, Louis and Charlotte, during the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE day
George, who currently attends Lambrook School in Berkshire, will move to secondary education when he reaches the age of 13 – although it has not yet been confirmed which institution his parents have chosen to send him to.
Among the schools reportedly being considered were his father’s alma mater; Eton College, and his mother’s; Marlborough College.
While nothing is confirmed yet, the Mail on Sunday reported last month that £63,000-a-year Eton was the frontrunner for Kate and William. A source told the paper: ‘All roads lead to Eton.’
