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The British royal family's official social media accounts celebrated Prince George's 12th birthday. "Wishing a very happy birthday to Prince George! 🎈🎊," their birthday wish for the future King read on X.
The royal family's message on Tuesday was accompanied by the new photo of George that was released by the Prince and Princess of Wales on July 22. The picture, showing the Prince smiling as he crossed his arms on a fence, was taken by photographer Josh Shinner earlier this year in Norfolk.
Prince William and Catherine additionally shared a video that was filmed during the same photo session as George's 12th birthday portrait. The video included footage of the birthday boy with his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
George, who was a Page of Honour at his paternal grandfather's 2023 coronation, is the eldest of King Charles' grandchildren. Following the birth of his first grandchild in 2013, Charles said, "Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild. It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy."
He continued, "Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone’s life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future.”
Charles and Camilla both visited St Marys Hospital the day George was born. Camilla called George's birth "wonderful news." She was also quoted as saying at the time (via the Express): "And I think it's a wonderfully uplifting moment for the country. It's very exciting and it's wonderful for the grandfather - he's brilliant with children."
In addition to Prince George, the King is a grandfather to the Prince and Princess of Wales' daughter Princess Charlotte and their younger son Prince Louis, and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Back in 2018, Prince William shared that his father is "brilliant" as a grandfather. In the Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70 documentary, William said (via PEOPLE), "Having more time with him at home would be lovely, and being able to you know play around with the grandchildren. Because when he’s there, he’s brilliant."