Prince George’s 13th Birthday Portrait Marks a New Style Era

The portrait of Prince George, older brother to sister Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, features the 13-year-old in a dark suit with a crisp white button down, his hands in his pockets as he smiles for the camera. “Happy 13th birthday, George!” Prince William and Middleton captioned the image.

The formal portrait contrasts with Prince George’s 12th birthday portrait. Last year, the young royal was photographed outdoors in a dark green and brown fleece vest over a blue and white checkered button down with the sleeves rolled up. The image was captured by photographer Josh Sinner.

Prince George’s 12th birthday portrait was also accompanied by a video, featuring the royal playing outside with his younger brother and sister. Contrasted with last year’s more casual, outdoorsy aesthetic, the suited portrait signals a more formal phase for the second in line to the British throne.

This fall, Prince George will begin his studies at Eton College, where Prince William and Prince Harry also studied as teenagers. Prior to his Eton College enrollment, Prince George attended Lambrook School in Berkshire and Thomas’s Battersea in London.

Eton College is a boys’ boarding school with a strict, historic dress code. Prince George, like his schoolmates, will be required to wear a black tailcoat, waistcoat and pinstriped trousers, along with a stiff white collar, per Eton College’s official website. This uniform has been in effect since 1964.

Following recent public outings at The Championships, Wimbledon on July 12 and Trooping the Colour the day after, Prince George has been eyed as a potential new trendsetter in the British royal family, joining his mother. The 13th birthday portrait, combined with his forthcoming attendance at the historic Eton College, certainly ushers in a fresh start for the young British royal.