Prince George delighted royal fans yesterday after publishing his 11th birthday portrait.
In the picture, the young royal, second in line to the British throne, looked in high spirits as he smiled for the camera. Posting the snap on social media, the Waleses said: “Wishing Prince George a very happy 11th birthday today!”
George opted to wear a smart suit and a dapper shirt in the monochrome image, adding a touch of formality to his special day.
It’s a trend that royal sons often follow: Prince William and Prince Harry regularly dressed in suits throughout their youth.
However, speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams revealed that the decision to dress the young royals in suits is not one taken lightly, but is a long-standing tradition full of meaning.
In his 11th birthday portrait, Prince George, second in line to the British throne, looked dazzling in a suit.
Richard said: ‘When royal children are in public, they are in full view. There is also a certain formality that comes with appearing in public. George wore a suit to the Euro final that matched his father’s. It worked.
‘It’s important to note that if they were to wear casual clothes on a formal occasion, it would make world headlines.
‘Even though they are children, they represent an institution. Obviously the sensible choice is to be elegant. The clothes worn by royal children can be very trendy.
‘Obviously, in the photographs that have been circulated of them, the clothes they wear vary enormously, depending on the mood being sought. They are just children, but they are not normal children.’
The royal expert continued: ‘They tend to follow upper-class traditions, such as boys wearing shorts.
‘However, they must avoid controversy in the clothes they wear when out in public and that invariably means playing it safe and being smart.
“We’ve seen him (Prince George) looking casual on his birthday many times. It’s a smart, casual look, but the image is particularly striking because he has inherited the look of his parents, the most glamorous royal couple in the world.
‘Some of the recent photos that have been posted of him are casual. In the Taylor Swift selfie, he had the perfect balance. This one is deliberately different and therefore memorable. Catherine is an expert photographer.’
Wearing formal attire is a common trend among royal children, one that Prince William also followed when he was younger (seen in 2004).
Following in his older brother’s footsteps, Prince Harry was also seen in a suit many times during his youth (seen in 1995).
Prince William and Prince George opted for similar outfits for the FA Cup final in Manchester in May 2024.
Pepa González, founder of Pepa London, a brand that children from Wales have worn on numerous occasions, shared Richard’s thoughts.
She said: ‘The royal family always tend to wear formal attire as this represents the tradition and quality of the tailoring of the outfits their ancestors once wore. They should look elegant, but also recognisable.
We have seen an increasing demand for blazers, formal shirts and traditional style suits for younger boys aged five and up, as their parents seek to emulate the regal look.
Rachel Riley, owner of her eponymous baby and children’s clothing brand, which has been photographed with all three royal children, added: “We’re used to seeing children dressed in timeless outfits for official occasions and by opting for more classic styles, it means the images will never go out of style.”
Elsewhere, royal fans compared Prince George to his father, the Prince of Wales, in the picture posted for his 11th birthday.
The black and white photograph, taken by keen photographer Kate, 42, shows the future King in a suit and smiling at the camera.
George, who is the eldest of the Waleses’ sons and second in succession to the throne, had his hair combed to one side in the picture.
He looked dapper and attentive in a blazer, smart trousers and a crisp white shirt as he smiled and looked into the camera lens.
Prince William is photographed at the late Queen Mother’s 94th birthday party at Clarence House in 1994
Prince Harry put on a sweet display in a navy suit jacket alongside the late Diana, Princess of Wales, in August 1995.
And fans of The Firm have compared the young royal to his father Prince William, 42, adding that he “looks a lot like his dad”.
They took to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram to comment on their thoughts.
One wrote: “He’s the spitting image of his dad honestly. Happy birthday George! How is he 11 already?” Another wrote: “He’s a handsome young man! He looks so much like his dad, he’s very much a lookalike.”
A third said: “OMG he looks just like his dad. Happy birthday Prince George. And congratulations to the Princess of Wales for another perfect photo.” A fourth commented: “Prince George looks so much like his dad.”
The young royal was born George Alexander Louis on 22 July 2013, in the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London.
In the photo, she is also wearing what appears to be a handmade bracelet on her left wrist, which bears a striking resemblance to the jewellery worn by Princess Charlotte and King Charles in recent appearances.
Posting the snap on their social media accounts, the Waleses said: “Wishing Prince George a very happy 11th birthday today!”
They confirmed that the snapshot had been taken by Kate sometime this year.
The Princess of Wales has long been a keen photographer and is often the person behind the camera when her children’s birthday portraits are taken.
She is particularly adept at capturing her family in natural poses, letting their personalities shine through.
And it seems George has strong Spencer genes, as other fans pointed out how much he resembles other members of the family.
Prince Harry and Prince William imitated each other in matching outfits at the 50th anniversary celebrations of Victory over Japan Day in London, 1995
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ youngest son, six-year-old Prince Louis, donned a suit for Trooping the Colour in June.
Some said she resembled her grandmother, the late Princess Diana, her great-uncle, Charles Spencer, and her great-grandfather, John Spencer.
One wrote: “George is the spitting image of Diana’s dad,” while another wrote: “He looks just like his uncle Charles Spencer.” A third chimed in, saying: “He looks just like Diana,” followed by a red heart emoji.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are very private about their children’s lives, meaning royal fans will be left guessing how George will spend his special day.
However, the 11-year-old’s godmother has revealed a special tradition, inspired by Princess Diana, that she takes part in with her godson every year on his birthday.
British psychotherapist Julia Samuels, 64, struck up a close friendship with Lady Diana after meeting her at a dinner party in 1987.
Speaking on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, she previously revealed she buys the “impossible” and loud “playful and cheeky” young royals toys that “take the Prince of Wales, 42, days to put together”, in a recurring joke inspired by Diana.
In 2020, Mary Berry described Kate as a “normal mother” who stays up late before her children’s birthdays to bake them cakes.
When asked about her baking skills, Mary said, “She’s a good baker and makes her own children’s birthday cakes, just like a normal mother.”