Prince George Is Officially a Teenager! 🎉 The future King has turned 13, and royal fans can’t believe how grown up he looks in his stunning new birthday portrait. Keeping a beloved family tradition alive, Prince William and Kate Middleton have once again shared a heartfelt glimpse of their eldest child as he steps into an exciting new chapter of his life. From his striking resemblance to both parents to the quiet confidence shining through his latest photo, the young royal is capturing hearts around the world.

Kate Middleton and Prince William kept a birthday tradition going strong with a new snap of their eldest child

Prince George is celebrating a major milestone: his 13th birthday!

Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s eldest child officially entered his teenage years on July 22. The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 44, marked the occasion by continuing their longstanding tradition of sharing a new portrait of the birthday boy on Instagram.

The image shared showed George looking happy and relaxed in a black suit with an open-collar white shirt. He had his hands in his pockets for the photograph, which was captioned, “Happy 13th Birthday, George,” alongside a celebratory emoji.

Earlier this year, similar photos were also released to celebrate Prince Louis turning 8 in April and Princess Charlotte‘s 11th birthday on May 2.

Prince George, who is currently on his summer vacation with his family, had a special outing as the break began: a trip to the Wimbledon men’s final on July 12. Looking cool in orange-framed shades, he stood almost as tall as his mom.

It was one of the handful of public outings the young royal takes during the year. George’s parents have made it their mission to shield him from the attention that will inevitably come with his life as a future king and keep him grounded while gradually introducing him to public life.

“William takes his role as father of the future King as seriously as he takes his role as future King. That’s key,” royal biographer Robert Hardman has previously told PEOPLE. “His overarching priority is making sure they enjoy it rather than fear it.”

That has meant front row seats at Wimbledon and fun outings with Prince William to see their favorite soccer team Aston Villa, while also learning some of the ropes about royal duty.

Prince George took part in a tea party for veterans alongside his parents and King Charles in May 2025, was taken to a homelessness charity by William in December and he quietly accompanied Kate to an airbase to mark Armed Forces Day. Meanwhile, his parents make sure they are there to watch his and his siblings’ sports matches.

George has been doing “the right things at the right moment…and that’s all that matters,” a source close to the palace said about his upbringing.

Such an upbringing was rooted and supported firstly by the late Queen Elizabeth and King Charles. Prince William “consciously set out to achieve” that space around the family, a palace insider has said. “To give him and his family the room to live as privately as they can, while still fulfilling their public duties.”

Meanwhile, Prince George’s home life at Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park mirrors the country-centered upbringing that his mother, Princess Kate, had. His grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton live just 30 minutes away and play a prominent role in shaping the life of a future monarch.

“He’s a delightful chap,” his godfather Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton told PEOPLE recently, as he added how it was “a great honor” to have a mentoring role in helping support the boy who will be king.

Prince George is enjoying his last long summer break before beginning his next big personal journey. In September, he will walk into Eton College to start senior high school. That will take him away from daily contact with his siblings, with whom he has been educated up to now.

But while that was a break from the tradition of royal children attending attending single gender schools, Prince George is following Prince William in going to the same boarding school as him. A source close to the family told PEOPLE soon after Kensington Palace confirmed the Eton College decision: “George has always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps.”

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith, of Royals Extra Substack, added, “Eton was a much-needed haven for William. It will give George a rigorous education that he will need for his role.”