A new photograph of Prince George has been released by Kensington Palace to mark the royal’s 13th birthday.
The photo, showing a relaxed George standing with his hands in his pockets and wearing an open-necked white shirt and dark suit, was shared by the Palace on social media.
The portrait was captioned with a message that read: “Happy 13th birthday, George!” alongside an emoji of a party popper.
The latest picture was snapped at Kensington Palace last month on the same day as the iconic Trooping of the Colour ceremony.
It was taken by Matt Porteous, who has captured many other images from Prince William and Prince Kate’s family celebrations.
George, the eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, is second in line to the throne.
Ahead of his milestone birthday today, a friend of the royals spoke to The Telegraph and revealed some insight into the teenager’s personality.
The friend of the family shared that George is “incredibly down to earth,” but also “aware of his future.”
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They went on to describe the young royal as a “a sporting all-rounder, a surprisingly good artist,” and someone who is still getting used to walkabouts, a key component of royal life. They went on to add that George is “arguably the best-prepared heir in history.”
A source told the publication that William and Kate have made learning from the mistakes of past royals has been “absolutely central” in how they have raised their children.
“The way they have lived their lives—getting the kids outside, spending time together, focusing on the school run—it’s just as strategic as any other part of their public service,” a source said. “Preparing their children for the lives they are going to lead, it’s central to their roles—it’s not something that’s on the side.”
The couple placed “really careful consideration as to when and how to introduce all their children to royal work and strike the balance with their normal lives,” said the insider, adding that they “should be confident about the years ahead.”.
“There are challenges, but they have been absolutely consistent about putting the family at the heart of everything they do, and the public supports them.”
Meanwhile, after months of speculation, a major decision was made about Prince George’s future in June.
Kensington Palace confirmed that the 13-year-old will follow in his father’s footsteps and attend the prestigious Eton College when the UK school term begins in September.
He currently is enrolled as a boarding student at Lambrook School, but will finish up in the coming weeks.
“Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College in September,” a spokesman said.