Prince George of Wales

"Prince George of Cambridge" redirects here. Not to be confused with Prince George, Duke of Cambridge.
For other people named George, Prince of Wales, see George, Prince of Wales (disambiguation).

Prince George
Prince George in 2023
BornPrince George of Cambridge
(2013-07-22) 22 July 2013 (age 11)
St Mary's Hospital, London, England
Names
George Alexander Louis[a]
HouseWindsor
FatherWilliam, Prince of Wales
MotherCatherine Middleton
Royal family of
the United Kingdom and the
other Commonwealth realms
Badge of the House of Windsor

Prince George of Wales (George Alexander Louis; born 22 July 2013) is a member of the British royal family. He is the eldest child of William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales. George is the eldest grandchild of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. He is second in the line of succession to the British throne behind his father.

George was born at St Mary's Hospital, London, during the reign of his paternal great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and was third in line before her death. His birth was widely celebrated across the Commonwealth realms due to the expectation that he will eventually become king.

Infancy

A newborn Prince George wrapped in white cloth
Leaving the hospital in the arms of his mother in July 2013

Prince George was born at 16:24 BST on 22 July 2013 in St Mary's Hospital, London, during the reign of his paternal great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. He was the first child of Prince William and Catherine, then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.[1] His birth was announced by press release and followed by the display of a traditional easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.[1][2] Celebrations were staged in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms[3] and the newborn was widely hailed as a future king in the majority of British newspapers.[4][5] His name was announced as George Alexander Louis on 24 July.[6]

George was third in the line of succession to the British throne at the time of his birth. For the first time since the reign of Queen Victoria, three generations in direct line of succession to the British throne were alive at the same time: George; his father, William; and his grandfather, Charles.[7] George was christened on 23 October by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace.[8][9][b]

Upbringing

George spent his first months in Anglesey, Wales, before his family relocated to Kensington Palace in 2014.[10][11] He embarked on his first royal tour with his parents in April 2014, during which they spent three weeks in New Zealand and Australia. Although George appeared only twice, the BBC described the "nine-month-old future king" as "the star of the show".[12] The then Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott predicted in the Parliament House, Canberra, that George would one day be welcomed there as King of Australia.[12] Australian media called him "the republican slayer", after polls showed the lowest support for republicanism in the country for 35 years.[13][14] In June 2015, George made his first public appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Colour parade.[15] From 2015 to 2017, his family lived at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, where he started at West Acre Montessori School Nursery in January 2016.[16] George met Barack and Michelle Obama on 22 April 2016. The encounter later prompted Barack Obama to joke that "Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe... a clear breach of protocol."[17]

George is wearing a white bathrobe as he shakes hands with the then American president
With his father meeting Barack and Michelle Obama at Kensington Palace in 2016

George started primary school under the name George Cambridge in September 2017 at Thomas's School in Battersea.[18][19][20] In 2022 the family relocated to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park.[21] Since September 2022, George and his siblings, Charlotte and Louis, have attended Lambrook, an independent preparatory school in Berkshire.[22][23] George commenced flying lessons in September 2024.[24]

George took part in his great-grandmother's Platinum Jubilee celebration in June 2022, including the Trooping the Colour carriage procession.[25] Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 and was succeeded by George's grandfather, who took the regnal name Charles III. George moved up to second in line for the throne, behind his father.[26][27] He served as a page of honour at his grandfather's coronation on 6 May 2023.[28][29] George and his siblings occasionally accompany their parents on royal engagements,[30] tours, and diplomatic visits.[31][32]

Public image

Clothing and other products used by George are often sold out, which has been termed as the "Prince George effect".[33] His parents have been adamant about maintaining their son's privacy during his childhood.[34] In August 2015, Kensington Palace stated that they wanted all global media to stop taking unauthorised photographs of George, saying that "a line [had] been crossed" in paparazzi methods of locating and photographing him, including surveilling the family and sending children to bring George into view.[35]

In the British satirical sketch programme Newzoids George was depicted as a rebellious, foul-mouthed character with a lewd sense of humour.[36] The 2016 children's book Winnie-the-Pooh Meets the Queen, written in honour of the 90th birthdays of both Queen Elizabeth II and the fictional character of Winnie-the-Pooh, features a cameo appearance from George, to whom Piglet presents a red balloon.[37] The 2021 animated sitcom The Prince stars a fictionalised eight-year-old George who makes life difficult for his family.[38] The show was cancelled in February 2022 after the first series drew criticism for satirising royal children.[39]

Title and styles

George is a prince of the United Kingdom with the official style "His Royal Highness Prince George of Wales".[40][41] During the reign of his great-grandmother, he was styled "His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge".[42]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ As a member of the royal family entitled to be called His Royal Highness, George does not usually use a family name, but when one is needed, it is usually Mountbatten-Windsor.
  2. ^ His godparents are: Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Earl Grosvenor (now Duke of Westminster), Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, Julia Samuel, William van Cutsem and Zara Tindall (his paternal first cousin once removed).[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Owen, Paul; Walker, Peter; Quinn, Ben; Gabbatt, Adam (22 July 2013). "Royal baby: Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a boy – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Royal baby bulletin displayed at palace (video)". BBC News. 22 July 2013. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  3. ^ Davies, Caroline (24 July 2013). "Prince of Cambridge's parents present him to the world at first photocall". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. ^ Malkin, Bonnie; Johnson, Daniel (23 July 2013). "Royal baby: what the British papers said". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  5. ^ "A future monarch is born". The Times. 23 July 2013. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  6. ^ Davies, Caroline (24 July 2013). "Prince George: royal couple choose name fit for a king". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  7. ^ Johnson, Daniel (22 July 2013). "Royal baby: three generations of heirs in waiting". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  8. ^ "The christening of Prince George of Cambridge". Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 27 September 2013. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Prince George christening: Godparents announced". BBC News. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  10. ^ "Prince George not yet sleeping through the night, says his dad". ABC News. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Kate Middleton, Prince William and baby George to be honoured by Anglesey". International Business Times UK. 3 September 2013. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  12. ^ a b Witchell, Nicholas (25 April 2014). "Royal tour: Prince George steals the show as support for monarchy rises". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Prince George dubbed 'the Republican slayer' in Australia". The Independent. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Prince George dubbed 'Republican slayer' as royals touch down in Australia on their tour". Evening Standard. 17 April 2014. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Prince George watches on excitedly as Royal family arrive at Trooping the Colour parade". The Daily Telegraph. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 23 August 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  16. ^ Hunt, Peter (18 December 2015). "Prince George to attend Westacre Montessori School Nursery". BBC News. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  17. ^ Millward, David; Allen, Nick (1 May 2016). "Barack Obama jokes Prince George's pyjamas greeting was 'slap in the face' in his final speech at White House Correspondents' dinner". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  18. ^ Hunt, Peter (24 March 2017). "Prince George to attend Thomas's School in Battersea". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  19. ^ Hunt, Peter (7 September 2017). "Prince George starts first day of school". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  20. ^ Davies, Caroline (7 September 2017). "Prince George arrives for first day at £18,000-a-year prep school". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  21. ^ Wylie, Catherine (3 September 2022). "Cambridges have moved into new Windsor home, sources say". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  22. ^ Elston, Laura (22 August 2022). "Lambrook: Inside George, Charlotte and Louis' new £7,000-per term school". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  23. ^ Haq, Sana Noor (8 September 2022). "Royal children George, Charlotte and Louis arrive for first day at new school". CNN. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  24. ^ Barton, Alex (13 September 2024). "Prince George starts flying lessons at age 11". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  25. ^ Hallemann, Caroline (4 June 2022). "Prince George and Princess Charlotte join their parents on a visit to Wales". Town & Country. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  26. ^ "Royal Family tree: William confirmed as Prince of Wales". BBC News. 9 September 2022. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Queen Elizabeth II has died". BBC News. 8 September 2022. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  28. ^ "Coronation invites issued by King Charles and 'Queen Camilla'". BBC News. 5 April 2023. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  29. ^ "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  30. ^ "Prince William and Kate make red carpet debut with royal children". BBC News. 11 December 2020. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  31. ^ Hunter, Justine (1 October 2016). "Prince William, Kate and children bid farewell to Canada as royal tour ends". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  32. ^ Hunt, Peter (17 July 2017). "George and Charlotte join Poland and Germany diplomacy tour". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  33. ^ Thompson, Isobel (20 July 2017). "'The Prince George Effect': How a 4-year-old royal is changing the course of children's fashion". Vogue Paris. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  34. ^ Hunt, Peter (29 September 2016). "Prince George and Princess Charlotte in Canada play day". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  35. ^ "Prince George 'being harassed by paparazzi'". BBC News. 14 August 2015. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  36. ^ Kimble, Lindsay (30 April 2015). "Royal Baby: Prince William and Princess Kate puppets spoof upcoming birth". People. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  37. ^ Sulcas, Roslyn (26 May 2016). "Winnie-the-Pooh meets Queen Elizabeth II (and Prince George) in new release". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  38. ^ "HBO Max Greenlights animated comedy "The Prince" from creator Gary Janetti and 20th Century Fox Television". WarnerMedia. 21 January 2020. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  39. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (16 February 2022). "'The Prince' canceled: animated British royal family parody won't return for Season 2 on HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  40. ^ "A new photograph of the King and the Queen Consort". The Royal Family. 4 April 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  41. ^ "Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis receive new titles". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  42. ^ "Royal baby prince named George Alexander Louis". BBC News. 24 July 2013. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prince George of Wales.


Prince George of Wales
Born: 22 July 2013
Lines of succession
Preceded by Succession to the British throne
2nd in line 		Followed by
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by Gentlemen
HRH Prince George of Wales 		Succeeded by
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