Prince George beams in never-before-seen photo released to mark his 12th birthday

The Prince and Princess of Wales have released a stunning photo of Prince George to mark his 12th birthday.

The future King, who was born on July 22, 2013 at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, looks angelic as ever as he beams in the photo, released via Kensington Palace.

The snap, understood to have been taken earlier this year by one of the family’s favourite videographers and photographers, Josh Shinner in Norfolk. It echoes Prince Louis‘s seventh birthday portrait, released in April.

In the snap, the future king is dressed in a white checked shirt layered with a khaki gilet as he leans over a wooden gate and smiles into the camera.

He also appears to be wearing a friendship bracelet made of blue-coloured threads – in a trend that he and his sister Charlotte have previously taken part in.

George, who is the eldest of the Wales children with younger siblings Charlotte, 10 and Louis, seven, was first introduced to the world when his mother Kate and father William stepped out of the Lindo Wing with him in their arms.

Dressed in a summery powder blue frock, Kate glowed as she and William revealed their first child, George Alexander Louis, to the world.

George, who currently attends Lambrook School in Berkshire, will move to secondary education when he reaches the age of 13 – although it has not yet been confirmed which institution his parents have chosen to send him to.

+24
View gallery

Prince George beams in a photo released to mark his 12th birthday. The young prince was photographed by Josh Shinner in April in Norfolk

+24
View gallery

Last year Kensington Palace shared a stunning black and white photo in 2024 to mark George’s 11th birthday

Among the schools reportedly being considered were his father’s alma mater; Eton College, and his mother’s; Marlborough College.

While nothing is confirmed yet, the Mail on Sunday reported last month that £63,000-a-year Eton was the frontrunner for Kate and William.

A source told the paper: ‘All roads lead to Eton.’

Sport-loving George has delighted royal fans around the world with public appearances alongside his parents at sporting events; including Aston Villa matches with his father and, most recently, the men’s Wimbledon final.

The 12-year-old sat alongside his parents and sister Charlotte to watch defending champion Carlos Alcaraz take on World No. 1 Jannik Sinner – before the Italian smashed the Spaniard to lift the trophy.

An animated George watched in apparent frustration as his favourite player dropped sets to Sinner, and appeared downcast at the final result.

It has been widely reported in the past that George and Charlotte are huge Alcaraz fans, and the pair have rejoiced at the 22-year-old’s Wimbledon wins in the last two years.

Indeed the Princess of Wales revealed in 2024 that Princess Charlotte had been supported Alcaraz as he beat Novak Djokovic to lift the Wimbledon trophy.

+24
View gallery

Prince George was first introduced to the world in 2013 when his parents the Prince and Princess of Wales held him in their arms on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London

+24
View gallery

George’s birthday photo appears to have been taken on the same day as the Wales family’s Father’s Day photoshoot

+24
View gallery

Prince George’s 10th birthday portrait was not taken by Kate, as it often is – instead the Waleses chose to use a snap from Millie Pilkington

+24
View gallery

Prince George was also photographed by his mother Kate on his seventh birthday – looking smart in a khaki polo neck

George looked solemn as his mother Kate, patron of the All England Lawn and Tennis Club, descended on Centre Court to award Alcaraz the runner-up dish while Sinner was awarded the winner’s trophy.

Earlier in the day, the future King revealed tennis is one of the sports he plays as an extracurricular activity; humbly suggesting he’s ‘alright’ at the sport.

Ahead of the men’s final, George arrived with his family to the All England Club where he chatted to doubles champions Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool.

Chatting to the royals, Cash asked George and Charlotte if they play ‘tennis’.

The pair both nodded, before Cash replied, ‘Are you good?’.

The future king then modestly quipped: ‘I was alright’.

While the Prince and Princess of Wales have gone to great lengths to protect George’s privacy in childhood, they have previously revealed fleeting details of his interests and hobbies.

Among them is his love of Aston Villa FC as he takes after his father Prince William in supporting the West Midlands-based side.

George has long been attending matches with his father, looking the image of William as he goes through the rollercoaster of emotions of supporting a football team.

The Prince and Princess of Wales also revealed insights into their eldest son’s music taste in recent years, sharing that he’s something of a rock fan.

+24
View gallery

Prince George (pictured, left) and Princess Charlotte (pictured, right) appear to look disappointed after Alcaraz lost the Wimbledon men’s final