NEED TO KNOW
- Prince George celebrated his 13th birthday by starring in a new video shared on social media
- In the 18-second montage, George pets the family dogs, plays cricket and climbs up a rocky hill
- Kate Middleton and Prince William also released a new portrait of their son for the milestone occasion
Prince George is celebrating his 13th birthday by sharing a look at his adventurous side.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s eldest child officially entered his teenage years on Wednesday, July 22, and the couple marked the occasion by releasing a new portrait of their son, keeping with a tradition they’ve done since his first birthday.
A few hours later, the Prince and Princess of Wales also dropped a new 18-second video on social media starring Prince George, just like they previously did for their other children’s birthdays this year (Princess Charlotte turned 11 in May, and Prince Louis marked his 8th birthday in April).
The video started with Prince George giving a wave and a smile to the camera, sporting the same orange-framed sunglasses that he wore at Wimbledon earlier this month.
The next shot showed George chatting during a boat ride before he gave the family dogs — cocker spaniels named Orla and Otto — some pets as they relaxed on a beach. Prince George then took a turn playing cricket in the sand.
Prince George is then seen leading his little brother up a rocky hill, with a beautiful view of the water in the background. The next clip shows George fearlessly hopping over gaps in the rocks before taking a seat on one and pointing into the distance.
“Thank you for all the birthday wishes for George today!” the post was captioned with a birthday cake emoji.
While the video showed off a casual side to the future king, Prince George took a more formal approach in his latest birthday portrait, appearing in a suit sans tie.
Turning 13 is a major milestone for Prince George. He recently aged out of Lambrook School, where he attended with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and will start at Eton College in September. The prestigious all-boys boarding school, which costs $85,000 per year, counts Prince William, Prince Harry and many other notable British men (including numerous prime ministers) as alumni.
While many options were explored for Prince George’s next school, 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.”
“They agreed. It helped him grow, to be part of a collective,” royal reporter Robert Jobson told the outlet.
While Prince George is following in his father’s footsteps by going to Eton College, Jobson said that the circumstances are wildly different.
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
“William walked into Eton carrying his parents’ marital war,” Jobson says, referring to the future King Charles and Princess Diana‘s strained marriage that ended in divorce the year after William started at Eton. “George walks in from a settled home. Two parents, together, who built him a base and guard it fiercely.”
“Confidence is not taught. It is absorbed,” he added.