Prince George, second in line to the British throne, turned 13 on July 22, 2026, and the occasion was marked with a new portrait released by his family. The photo, taken by Matt Porteous just after Trooping the Colour last month, shows him smiling at Kensington Palace. The milestone is more than a family birthday: it signals the start of a new chapter for a future king, and a chance to reflect on how royal childhoods have changed.
Prince George Alexander Louis was born at 4.24pm on July 22, 2013, in the private Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in London. At birth he was third in line to the throne; after the accession of King Charles III, he moved to second place. He has two younger siblings, Princess Charlotte (11) and Prince Louis (8). Earlier this month he was seen in public at Wimbledon with his parents and sister, and last month he joined his mother at RAF Coningsby to mark Armed Forces Day, where he learned about the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. He is described as a thoughtful, somewhat shy boy who enjoys many sports and is particularly good at art.
“Prince George turns 13: a look at his upbringing, schooling at Eton, and the contrasting teenage years of his father William.”
His next big step comes on September 8, when he will start at Eton College in Year 9 (known as F-Block). The school is a 10-minute drive from the family home in Windsor, but he will live in a private room and is expected to be given a "brick phone" to stay in touch with family. This marks the first time he will live away from home. Unlike his father Prince William, who was sent to boarding school at age eight, George has enjoyed a day-school education at Lambrook in Berkshire, alongside his siblings, and has had a stable home life.
The contrast with his father's teenage years is striking. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond recalled that when William turned 13, his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, told her that William felt the "burden of kingship" weighed heavily on his shoulders. Diana said he had complained that people were treating him as if he were already king. William's childhood was marked by his parents' separation and his mother's death in a car crash in 1997. Bond argues that George is "luckier than his dad, luckier than his grandfather" because he is entering his teenage years with the solid grounding of a happy childhood, brought up by parents who adore one another and their children.
For UK readers, the transition of a future monarch into adolescence is a reminder of the continuity of the monarchy. George's gradual introduction to royal duties—such as attending Trooping the Colour and the Wimbledon men's final—shows how the royal family is preparing him for a role he did not choose. The public's interest in his development reflects the ongoing relevance of the monarchy in British life.
Q: How old is Prince George? Prince George is 13 years old. He was born on July 22, 2013, at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London.
Q: Where will Prince George go to school? He will start at Eton College in Berkshire in September 2026, joining about 260 new boys in Year 9. The school is near Windsor, where his family lives.
Q: How is Prince George's upbringing different from that of his father, Prince William? Prince William was sent to boarding school at age eight and his parents divorced when he was young; he also lost his mother at age 15. Prince George has attended a day school, lives at home with both parents, and has experienced a stable family life.
What happens next: Prince George will begin boarding at Eton College in September. Over the next few years, he is likely to take on more public engagements as he is gradually introduced to the responsibilities of royal life. His parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, have said they want to give him as normal a childhood as possible while preparing him for his future role.
