Prince George birthday marked with coastal fun video
A new Prince George birthday video from Kensington Palace shows the second in line to the throne turning 13 with coastal fun. Shot in Cornwall at Easter, the clip captures him waving in sunglasses, playing beach cricket and climbing rocks. A formal Matt Porteous portrait was also shared.
Key Takeaways
- Kensington Palace released an Easter Cornwall beach video to mark Prince George turning 13.
- The clip shows him waving in sunglasses, playing beach cricket and climbing rocks.
- A Matt Porteous portrait taken after Trooping the Colour was also published.
- George is set to start at Eton College in September, following Prince William.
The Prince and Princess of Wales marked their eldest son's milestone on Wednesday with two personal releases. According to the BBC, the birthday video arrived with the caption: "Thank you for all the birthday wishes for George today!"
George, the elder son of William and Catherine, is second in line to the throne. The coastal montage offers a rare, informal look at a teenager whose public role is growing.
What does the new Prince George birthday video show?
The footage shows a smiling George waving at the camera in sunglasses. He is also seen playing cricket on the beach and climbing rocks.
The BBC reports the video was shot in Cornwall during the Easter holiday. The Times notes that William and Kate released the clip for George's 13th birthday alongside the formal portrait.
Earlier on Wednesday, the palace shared a photograph of George standing with his hands in his pockets. He wears an open-necked white shirt and a dark suit, with the message "Happy 13th birthday, George!" and a party popper emoji.
Photographer Matt Porteous took the picture at Kensington Palace last month, straight after Trooping the Colour. The BBC says this year's image is more formal than last year's rural Norfolk portrait, which showed George in a countryside-style gilet.
Why does turning 13 matter for Prince George?
Turning 13 coincides with a major school change. George is preparing to start secondary school in September at Eton College, the elite boarding school his father attended.
Entry usually begins at 13. Prince Harry and Earl Spencer also studied there. George will board in one of Eton's 25 houses, each with about 55 pupils under a house master and residential staff.
He previously attended Lambrook School in Berkshire with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. For any child, secondary school is a big shift—and George is no different on that front.
How have William and Kate marked the milestone?
William and Catherine have tried to keep family life as normal as possible at Forest Lodge. Still, George's childhood has unfolded in the public spotlight.
He has been gradually introduced to public duties, including joining William at a Christmas homeless charity event. In June he appeared with senior royals at Trooping the Colour, and earlier this month he was seen with his parents at Wimbledon.
Together, the Cornwall video and Kensington Palace portrait balance candid childhood moments with a more grown-up image as he enters his teens. For more trending coverage across our site, visit the Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.