From the little prince who wore colorful shorts and knee socks, to the dapper teenager he is today, Prince George has grown up in front of the world.
Each year on George’s birthday, July 22, parents Prince William and Princess Catherine release a new official portrait to mark the occasion, a tradition they have also continued for their two younger children, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8. In recent years, the Princess of Wales has often been behind the camera for George’s birthday portraits, capturing many of the candid moments herself; though a number of photographers have also photographed the young royal over the years.
Every year, George’s birthday portrait offers a glimpse into that very chapter of his life. We’ve seen everything from sweet snapshots in the gardens of the royal family’s homes, to more formal portraits nodding to his future as the United Kingdom’s king. As he celebrates his 13th birthday today, take a look back at all of Prince George’ss official birthday portraits through the years.
First birthday, 2014
George’s first official birthday portraits were taken on July 2, 2014, during a visit to the Sensational Butterflies exhibition at London’s Natural History Museum. The sweet photos capture the royal toddler walking around the exhibit in striped overalls.
They also mark the only time William and Kate have both appeared alongside George in one of his official birthday portraits, as the images were taken during a family outing.
Second birthday, 2015
For their eldest son’s second birthday, William and Kate released a more playful portrait of George being carried by his father. Captured by photographer Mario Testino, the adorable image shows the pair sharing a laugh as George leans toward the camera with a wide grin.
Third birthday, 2016
George’s third birthday portraits marked the first time the young royal appeared solo in a series of official photos. Captured by photographer Matt Porteous at Anmer Hall, the family’s country home, the images show George spending time outdoors with the family dog, Lupo, and sitting on a wooden swing engraved with his parents’ names.
Fourth birthday, 2017
This time, William and Kate released a more formal portrait of George. Taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson, the photo shows the little prince smiling widely during the sit-down photoshoot, wearing a blue-and-white striped button-down shirt against a black backdrop.
Fifth birthday, 2018
The portrait released for George’s fifth birthday was actually taken during his younger brother Prince Louis’s christening in 2018. Captured by royal photographer Matt Porteous, the photo shows George posing with his hands behind his back as he smiles joyfully for the camera.
Sixth birthday, 2019
These portraits marked a special moment: an at-home photoshoot captured by his mother, Kate. In one of the more formal images, George is seen posing in front of a backdrop of trees while wearing a green polo shirt and striped shorts.
In two more candid (and extremely wholesome) photos, he wears an England football jersey while laughing on a grassy field, showing off some of his recently lost baby teeth.
Seventh birthday, 2020
For George’s seventh birthday, his parents released another set of portraits captured by Kate. Taken outdoors during the COVID-19 lockdown, the cute images show George flashing his gap-toothed smile. The photos were likely taken at the family’s Norfolk country home, Anmer Hall.
Eighth birthday, 2021
In another portrait captured by Kate, George smiles as he sits atop a car for his eighth birthday photo. The prince wears a casual blue-and-orange striped polo shirt paired with matching blue shorts.
Ninth birthday, 2022
This portrait of George was taken during a family holiday. Captured by Kate, the beachside photo shows the young prince in vacation mode, smiling in a light-blue polo shirt.
Tenth birthday, 2023
Entering double digits, George’s tenth birthday portrait marked a more formal moment for the young royal. He appeared notably more grown-up in a checked button-down shirt, tailored trousers, and suede dress shoes. Captured on the steps of Windsor Castle, the photo was taken by photographer Millie Pilkington.
Eleventh birthday, 2024
Kate returned as the photographer for George’s 11th birthday portrait: a sharp black-and-white image of the young royal in a more formal blazer and button-down shirt. As he smiled for the camera, George looked like the spitting image of his father, William.
Twelfth birthday, 2025
Marking his 12th birthday, George was photographed in Norfolk by Josh Simmer. The outdoor countryside portrait shows the prince wearing a blue friendship bracelet alongside a blue checked button-down shirt and a hunter-green vest layered over it.
William and Kate also shared a special video featuring George with his younger siblings, Charlotte and Louis. In the candid footage, the three siblings are seen posing for photos in the family’s garden while in coordinating preppy outfits, with George and Charlotte playfully carrying their younger brother, Louis, in one adorable moment. Released on Instagram, the video was simply captioned: “12 today! 🎉”
Thirteenth birthday, 2026
George is officially a teenager! In honor of the future king’s 13th birthday, William and Kate shared a portrait that sees George posing in a black suit and white dress shirt, with his hands in his pockets. The post is simply captioned, “Happy 13th Birthday, George!”
Like the year prior, the royals also shared a more personal video on their joint Instagram account to commemorate George’s birthday. The footage features the prince with the family dog and younger brother Louis playing and running along a beach and climbing seaside rocks.
