“It’s just a special way for me to get involved.”
Prince George is one year closer to being a teenager.
On July 22, Prince William and Kate Middleton took to Instagram to wish their eldest son — who is currently second in line to the British throne — a happy 12th birthday.
As is tradition in the royal family, George’s birthday post featured an updated portrait of the birthday boy.
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George, who is looking more and more like his father, wore a white and blue striped button-down shirt under a brown fleece vest and jeans.
He was also wearing a friendship bracelet as he smiled at the camera with his arms on a fence.
“Happy Birthday to our little (not so little anymore) Future King,” one user wrote in the comment section.
The Prince and Princess of Wales also shared a video of George having fun and holding hands with his two younger siblings — Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
The photo and video were taken in Norfolk earlier this year by photographer Josh Shinner, per People.
It was the same photoshoot used for Louis’s birthday portrait, which was shared on April 23, and a Father’s Day tribute to Prince William, shared on June 15.
As for George, his 12th birthday marks a series of changes in the soon-to-be teenager’s life as a royal.
For starters, the British royal family has a longstanding history of not allowing direct heirs to the throne — which would include Prince William, who is first in line and Prince George — to travel on a plane together.
The family does this to “secure the future of the monarchy should there be a tragic accident,” per 7NEWS Australia.
For reference, Prince William was 12 years old when he stopped flying with his father, King Charles III.
King Charles’ former pilot opens up about royal flight protocol
During a 2023 appearance on “A Right Royal Podcast,” King Charles’s former pilot, Graham Laurie, opened up about the protocol and revealed the one way around it.
“Interestingly, we flew all four: the Prince [King Charles], the Princess [Diana], Prince William and Prince Harry, up until Prince William was 12 years old. After that, he had to have a separate aircraft,” Laurie said.
“And we could only fly all four together when they were young with the written permission of Her Majesty,” he added.
It’s unclear if William and Kate will be subject to similar protocols and privileges, but the couple have a history of doing what’s best for their kids and family — even if it means skipping royal events.
For example, they’ve now skipped the Easter Matins Service at Windsor Castle two years in a row, according to People.
The family skipped the Easter outing in 2024 due to Kate’s cancer diagnosis, which was revealed just weeks prior, and again in 2025 in order to spend time with their kids at home.
Prince George is also entering his final year at Lambrook
Aside from the flight protocol, George will also see his schooling change in the coming year.
George — along with his two siblings — currently attend Lambrook Preparatory School in Berkshire, which only teaches kids up until the age of 13, according to Hello! Magazine.
William and Kate have a major decision to make as to what’s next for George’s education.
Some royal experts are convinced that he’ll follow in his father’s footsteps and attend the all-boys school Eton College in Berkshire, according to The Daily Mail.
George’s uncle, Prince Harry, also attended the school, per BBC.
Other theories suggest that George may follow in his mother’s footsteps and attend Marlborough College in Wiltshire, but that speculation has since been tested, according to People.
Eton College requires students to be registered before June 30 of the year they turn 10, per the school’s website.
While the family and school have yet to make an announcement on George’s education, the decision very well could already be made, per The Daily Mail.
If that’s not enough change for the future King, he’ll also see his royal and etiquette training ramped up as he makes more regular appearances for royal events.
George already experienced some of this when he joined other senior royals in a tea party for the family’s VE Day festivities in May, according to The Daily Mail.
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George will also become more involved in daily briefings as he grows older, per 7NEWS Australia.
