Prince George is reportedly beginning to follow in the footsteps of both King Charles III and Prince William as a major milestone birthday approaches — but what’s quietly happening behind the scenes is what’s really catching attention
The future King enters his formative teenage years tomorrow
Prince George is preparing for one of the biggest transitions of his young life as he turns 13 tomorrow, with friends of the Wales family describing the future king as “like any other teen” ahead of his move to Eton College.
The young prince will begin at Eton College on September 8, following in Prince William’s footsteps and leaving Lambrook School, where he has spent his recent years alongside Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight.
As George grows into his role as future king, this summer marks the end of childhood and the beginning of a new chapter, with birthday celebrations, farewells to school friends and preparations for life at one of Britain’s most famous boarding schools.
A friend of the Wales family told The Sun that George is “not an extrovert or a show-off,” despite already understanding the responsibilities awaiting him.
They added: “In fact, he’s quite a sensitive soul who’s very into conservation, like his father and grandfather, and music.
“Behind closed doors, he’s like any other teen, but in public he takes it all very seriously.”
Away from royal duties, George enjoys an increasingly wide range of hobbies. Like his father, he is an avid Aston Villa supporter and has been following this summer’s Fifa World Cup. He is also a talented swimmer, competes in national triathlons and shares his mother’s competitive streak on the hockey pitch.
Aviation also holds a particular fascination — he has been taking private flying lessons and is a keen enthusiast. William revealed his eldest son’s admiration for the RAF in 2024, claiming that George is a “potential pilot in the making.”
Prince George is preparing for one of the biggest transitions of his young life as he turns 13 tomorrow, with friends of the Wales family describing the future king as ‘sensitive’ and ‘self-conscious’ ahead of his move to Eton College
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He also visited RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire alongside his mother last month, where he was captured entering the cockpit of a fighter jet looking remarkably composed.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have gone to extraordinary lengths to shield their children from the weight of royal expectation. For years, George did not even know he was destined to be King.
When he posed alongside the late Queen, then-Prince Charles and his father for commemorative stamps in 2016, the young prince was simply told the photographs were for “Gan-Gan’s bedside table.”
George visited RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire alongside his mother last month, where he was captured entering the cockpit of a fighter jet looking remarkably composed
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The couple have employed lawyers to prevent unauthorised images from circulating and made direct appeals to fellow parents not to photograph their children. In exchange, the family periodically releases official portraits — a photograph taken by the Princess is expected tomorrow, as is now tradition on birthdays.
Catherine’s advocacy for early childhood development and William’s own painful experience of losing his mother at 15 have shaped their fiercely protective approach. The result: George, Charlotte, and Louis have enjoyed remarkable normality for children born into the most famous family on earth.
“No one knows better than William what life is like growing up in the Royal family,” a source told The Telegraph. “He is absolutely determined to get it right.”
George attended the Wimbledon final earlier this month, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte
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Meanwhile, other friends have told the outlet George is “incredibly down to earth”.
Public appearances have gradually become more frequent, from Wimbledon to VE Day commemorations, as George slowly prepares for life as a working royal.
But his next milestone will come on September 8, when he walks through the gates of Eton College and begins the next stage of his journey towards the throne.
