Prince George Turns 12 As World Watches The Future King Grow With Pride

Jul 22, 2025 by apost team

Prince George of Wales, the eldest child of Prince William and Princess Catherine, continues to grow up in the public eye. Now turning 12 years old, George has already shown glimpses of his personality and interests while taking on early responsibilities as a young royal.

Born on July 22, 2013, at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, George is the first grandchild of King Charles III and second in line to the British throne. If things go as planned, George will become king after his father, the Prince of Wales. He would be England’s 43rd monarch since the Norman Conquest of 1066. His birth was a major event for the royal family and was widely celebrated. The following day, William and Catherine posed on the steps of the hospital’s Lindo Wing with their newborn, marking a memorable moment for royal watchers.

The Royal Mint, along with the Royal Canadian and Royal Australian Mints, issued commemorative coins to honor his birth. Notably, the Royal Mint chose a design featuring St. George before the Prince’s name was even revealed – a fitting coincidence.

George shared a close bond with his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. On ITV’s “Our Queen at Ninety,” Princess Catherine revealed: “George is only 2½ and he calls her ‘Gan-Gan.’” According to Yahoo Entertainment: “She always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go and stay and that just shows her love for her family.” Keep reading to learn more about the young royal as he turns 12.

In 2021, Queen Elizabeth made sure to wish Prince George a happy 8th birthday, even from afar. According to Us Magazine:

“The queen zoomed Prince George to wish him a happy birthday” and “sent him a lovely gift as a surprise.” The source added: “George loves his great-grandmother so much.”

To mark the occasion, the Wales family shared a charming video of George on YouTube. Earlier that year, he also helped commemorate Prince William and Princess Catherine’s 10th wedding anniversary and attended the Euro 2020 final at Wembley. He even met Sir David Attenborough, who gifted him a fossilized shark tooth, inspiring George’s love for the natural world.

George also shares his father’s love of aviation. Prince William was once a full-time RAF pilot, and Princess Catherine revealed in 2016:

“George is now obsessed with the air cadets and wants to join.”

In 2022, the family celebrated George’s ninth birthday with a joyful beachside photo posted to Instagram. That same year, George attended Wimbledon for the first time with his parents, where he met the winner Novak Djokovic. When asked who he supported, George whispered “Djokovic,” prompting William to say that “he’ll support the winner.” In 2023, days before his 10th birthday, George returned to Wimbledon with Charlotte to see Carlos Alcaraz defeat Djokovic.

Despite challenges faced by the royal family in 2024, George has been seen more frequently in public with his father, engaging with people and gaining valuable experience for his future role.

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George skipped Wimbledon in 2024 to accompany his father to the Euro 2024 final in Berlin. There, they met King Felipe VI of Spain and his daughter, Princess Sofia. A TikTok of George shaking Sofia’s hand went viral. One user joked:

“We should totally get George to marry the eldest princess of Spain and unite our nations…”

However, George and Sofia are distantly related. King Felipe’s great-grandmother, Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, was born in England as a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, while George is the great-great-great-grandson of the late queen. 

In 2023, George captivated hearts in his birthday portrait, his smile beaming as he turned 10. On July 22, 2024, George’s 11th birthday was also marked by the official release of a portrait taken by Princess Catherine. That year was crucial in his life as a royal, as it was the last year he could travel with his father. According to tradition, after turning 12, the young Prince must fly separately from his father to help ensure the monarchy’s future.

In September 2024, he started flying lessons at White Waltham Airfield, continuing his family’s aviation tradition. The following month, Prince William revealed George’s growing passion for scuba diving, saying:

“He absolutely loves it.” 

On May 5, 2025, George made his debut at a formal Buckingham Palace event hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla, honoring World War II veterans, his first major structured royal engagement. He later attended Wimbledon on July 13, 2025, where he humbly said, “I’m alright,” when asked about his tennis skills amid meeting tournament champions. 

As he continues to grow into his role, George is being gradually groomed to inherit up to eight future titles, including Prince of Wales and Duke of Rothesay.

Happy 12th birthday to Prince George! What are your wishes for the young royal? Let us know, and then pass this along to all the royal family watchers you know!