Prince George has officially entered his teenage years, and the way his parents, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, chose to mark the milestone has revealed a carefully planned approach to raising the future King.

For George’s 13th birthday, the Prince and Princess of Wales shared two very different glimpses of their eldest son. One was a formal portrait showing George dressed in a smart suit following the recent Trooping the Colour ceremony. The other was a much more relaxed behind-the-scenes video showing him enjoying a family holiday, smiling in sunglasses, playing cricket on the beach, and spending time with the family dog.

The contrast between the two images appeared intentional. One represented George’s future role as a senior member of the Royal Family, while the other showed him as an ordinary teenager enjoying a private family moment.

However, royal experts believe the most significant detail was not what appeared in the photos — but what was missing.

In both birthday posts, William and Kate referred to their son simply as “George” rather than using his official royal title. The same approach has been used when celebrating their younger children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who are also usually mentioned by their first names rather than their formal titles.

According to royal commentator Jennie Bond, this small decision reflects a much bigger change in the way William views the monarchy. She believes the Prince of Wales is trying to create a more modern, approachable royal family that feels less distant from ordinary people.

Bond explained that avoiding excessive formality allows George and his siblings to be seen as children first and royals second. She said this approach matches William’s previously expressed vision of being “royal with a small ‘r’” — maintaining the importance of the institution while making it feel more connected to the public.

The strategy also appears to serve another purpose: protecting George from overwhelming attention.

As the future monarch, George has faced public interest since the moment he was born. His first appearance came just hours after his birth, when he was carried by Kate outside the private Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in London.

Now, 13 years later, George is entering a new stage of life. His height has reportedly caught up with his mother, and his responsibilities as a future King are slowly becoming more visible.

Jennie Bond believes William and Kate have found an effective balance by releasing carefully chosen photographs rather than allowing constant media coverage of their children.

Instead of having photographers follow George everywhere, the couple provides occasional images that show his personality and development while maintaining his privacy.

The birthday portrait this year marked a noticeable change from previous releases. Earlier photos often showed George in casual clothing and relaxed countryside settings, particularly around Norfolk. This year’s image, featuring him dressed more formally, suggested a subtle recognition of his future responsibilities.

However, the holiday video ensured that the public also saw another side of him — a teenager enjoying normal family life away from royal duties.

Bond believes this combination is deliberate. The formal image helps prepare the public to see George as the future King, while the informal moments remind people that he is still a young person growing up.

The timing of the birthday also comes as George prepares for another major milestone. In September, he is expected to follow in his father’s footsteps by beginning his education at Eton College, one of Britain’s most prestigious schools. Reports suggest he will attend as a full-time boarding student.

In recent months, George has also started appearing more frequently alongside his parents at official events. He attended Trooping the Colour and recently joined Kate for his first official joint engagement when they visited the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby.

Despite his increasing public role, William and Kate remain determined to give all three of their children as normal a childhood as possible. More royal duties for George are therefore unlikely at this stage.

For Jennie Bond, the birthday photo tradition is likely to continue because it represents a successful agreement between the Royal Family and the public. By sharing a small number of meaningful images each year, William and Kate keep people updated while protecting George’s private life.

The result has been a carefully managed public image of a young prince who appears happy, confident and comfortable — a balance that traditional royal publicity strategies have rarely achieved.

As George moves closer to his future role, his parents’ quiet approach may become one of the defining features of the next generation of the monarchy.